Energy & Technology

TBCASoft, the U.S.-based on-chain finance innovator behind the HIVEX® Network, has signed a strategic MOU with Singapore-based licensed Major Payment Institution StraitsX, the issuer of XSGD and XUSD stablecoins, under a project named HIVEX® StableLink. The collaboration aims to deliver scalable, blockchain-powered cross-border payments using regulated stablecoins, offering instant foreign exchange (FX) and settlement finality. This initiative is designed to reduce costs and improve efficiency for mobile users, merchants, issuers, and acquirers across the network. StraitsX will integrate its stablecoins with the HIVEX® Network, a next-generation international mobile payment platform. HIVEX® StableLink plans to connect regulated stablecoin issuers in multiple jurisdictions, including Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and the United States. The HIVEX® Network leverages blockchain technology to enable secure, interoperable cross-border payments while maintaining FX transparency, regulatory compliance, and data protection. Since 2023, HIVEX® has supported stablecoin-based cross-border clearing and now aims to expand to regulated instant settlement and FX under this initiative. “Project HIVEX® StableLink is a milestone for the HIVEX® Network, establishing it as a global infrastructure layer for mobile payments,” said Ling Wu, Founder and CEO of TBCASoft. “This partnership with StraitsX allows us to deliver scalable, interoperable, and sovereign blockchain-powered finance solutions, offering real value to customers across our network.” Tianwei Liu, CEO & Co-Founder of StraitsX, added: “By integrating our stablecoins and payment capabilities within the HIVEX® Network, businesses can now access seamless and instant QR payments and settlements, backed by trusted infrastructure, compliance, and competitive value.” The partnership strengthens HIVEX®’s position as a global enabler of mobile wallet interoperability, fostering a harmonised framework for banks, e-wallets, merchants, and users, and advancing the adoption of open, borderless mobile payments worldwide.

KUCHING, SACOFA, Sarawak’s leading telecommunications infrastructure provider, has entered a strategic partnership with ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leader in integrated information and communication technology solutions, to modernise SACOFA’s statewide network and support Sarawak’s next phase of digital growth. The network upgrade introduces scalable, ultra-broadband capacity through full-band Optical Transport Network (OTN) technologies capable of 1.6 Terabyte throughput, enhanced by AI-driven intelligent network management for improved reliability and spectrum efficiency. The core transport network features a 6-in-1 EDN (Enhanced Deterministic Networking) processor, delivering high-speed forwarding with low latency and jitter resilience for real-time applications. These upgrades will enhance bandwidth delivery, elevate service quality, and optimise operational efficiency. The initiative will see SACOFA upgrading its core transport, routing, and optical layers using ZTE’s advanced solutions, creating a robust foundation for long-term network performance and reliability. Dato Sri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman B Abdul Taib, Managing Director of SACOFA. “SACOFA’s collaboration with ZTE advances the state government’s Post-COVID-19 Development Sarawak 2030 and the Sarawak Digital Blueprint 2030 initiatives. Modernising our network infrastructure allows us to convert enhanced capacity and reliability into economic growth and operational readiness, marking a key milestone in Sarawak’s digital transformation,” said Dato Sri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman B Abdul Taib, Managing Director of SACOFA. Steven Ge, Managing Director, ZTE Malaysia. Steven Ge, Managing Director of ZTE Malaysia, added: “By combining SACOFA’s local expertise with ZTE’s global innovations in core and optical transport technologies, we are delivering a future-ready digital backbone. This infrastructure will enable 5G, cloud, and AI-driven services, supporting Sarawak’s goal of a dynamic and inclusive digital economy by 2030.”

KUALA LUMPUR, A consortium between Citaglobal Bhd’s wholly owned unit, Citaglobal Renewable Energy Sdn Bhd, and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar) has been shortlisted by the Energy Commission of Malaysia to develop a 200-megawatt (MW) large-scale solar (LSS) photovoltaic plant at Chereh Dam in Kuantan, Pahang. In a Bursa Malaysia filing, Citaglobal said the consortium has received a letter of notification subject to specific conditions, including the signing of a 21-year solar power purchase agreement with Tenaga Nasional Bhd. The plant is targeted to begin commercial operations by Nov 30, 2027. Once completed, the Chereh Dam facility will become Southeast Asia’s largest floating solar power project, overtaking the 145MW alternating current Cirata Floating Solar Plant in Indonesia, which was also developed by Masdar alongside PT PLN Nusantara Power. Spanning about 303.51 hectares of water surface, the Chereh Dam solar plant will feature a peak generation capacity exceeding 300MWp and is expected to produce an average of 433 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable energy annually—enough to power more than 100,000 Malaysian households.

KUALA LUMPUR, Edotco Group Sdn Bhd’s subsidiary, Edotco Services Lanka (Private) Ltd, has been granted Sri Lanka’s first telecommunications infrastructure services licence by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL). In a statement on Wednesday, Edotco said the initiative aims to fast-track Sri Lanka’s digital transformation through improved infrastructure, digital skills development, and a stronger legislative framework to support the growth of its digital economy. Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne (second left) presenting Sri Lanka’s first telecom infrastructure services license to Edotco Sri Lanka country managing director Gayan Koralage (left). The licence allows Edotco to provide a full range of infrastructure services critical to national connectivity, covering both passive and active solutions. These include tower and pole structures, fibre networks, indoor coverage systems such as IBS and small cells, as well as other active network components essential to the country’s digital ecosystem. Edotco Sri Lanka country managing director Gayan Koralage said the licence reflects confidence in the group’s expertise and reinforces its commitment to advancing Sri Lanka’s connectivity landscape. “As a licensed provider, Edotco will act as a trusted partner for mobile operators and government stakeholders to deliver reliable, high-quality infrastructure, ensuring inclusive connectivity for all communities. With the country requiring over 7,000 new towers to meet 5G demand and data usage projected to quadruple by 2028, Edotco is well-positioned to address this gap,” he said. Edotco is one of Asia’s leading digital connectivity infrastructure providers, managing a portfolio of more than 58,000 towers across nine markets: Malaysia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Laos.

KUALA LUMPUR, Scanfil plc, Europe’s largest publicly listed electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, has invested RM15.8 million to expand and upgrade its Johor Bahru facility operated by SRX Global (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA). From left: Paul Appleby (Former CEO of SRX Global), Christina Wiklund (Chief Commercial Officer & VP of Americas), Christian Kesten (Vice President of APAC), Christophe Sut (CEO of Scanfil Group), Jarrko Takanen (Major shareholder), Mohamad Reduan Mohd Zabri (Director of MIDA Johor), Maiju Lepomaki (Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Finland Kuala Lumpur), Mohamed Farid Mohamed Razali (Senior Advisor, Business Finland). In a statement on Wednesday, MIDA said the expansion will boost Scanfil’s production capacity by nearly 50% and strengthen the group’s Asia-Pacific operations, which also include a plant in Melbourne, Australia. Prior to the upgrade, the Johor Bahru site operated four automated surface mount technology (SMT) lines with a workforce of 170. Scanfil group chief executive officer Christophe Sut said the investment underscores Malaysia’s pro-business environment and the company’s long-term commitment to Johor. “We see strong growth opportunities, particularly in the industrial, medical technology, and life sciences sectors,” he said. The modernised facility features an enlarged production area, integrated end-to-end electronics manufacturing capabilities, and the potential to expand its headcount beyond the current workforce. MIDA chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid welcomed the investment as a significant boost to Malaysia’s high-value manufacturing ecosystem. “This project will bring in advanced technologies, create skilled jobs, and enhance innovation and sustainability across the electronics supply chain,” he said. He added that the initiative aligns with the objectives of the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 and the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), both of which aim to strengthen Malaysia’s role in the global electronics and semiconductor sector while enhancing long-term supply chain resilience. Headquartered in Finland, Scanfil posted €780 million (RM3.8 billion) in revenue for 2024. The group operates 11 production facilities across four continents and has served global clients for over 40 years.

HANGZHOU, Unitree Technology Co, one of China’s leading robotics developers, announced it will file documents to list on a domestic stock exchange as early as next month, potentially giving investors their first detailed look at its financial performance. The Hangzhou-based company said on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday that it plans to submit filings on its operations to the exchange between October and December. Unitree had already submitted a pre-listing application in July, though the firm did not disclose which bourse it intends to pursue. Unitree gained significant attention in February when founder Wang Xingxing appeared alongside prominent Chinese entrepreneurs at a high-profile meeting with President Xi Jinping. The company has since become one of China’s most talked-about robotics firms, with its machines showcased in demonstrations ranging from marathon running to logistics assistance. Wang said in June that annual revenue had surpassed RMB1 billion (RM590 million). While widespread consumer adoption of bipedal robots remains distant, several Chinese companies — including Shenzhen-based Leju Robotics and UBTech Robotics Corp — have already deployed humanoid machines in electric vehicle factories for tasks such as moving boxes and sorting materials. Unitree, however, stressed that its focus remains on civil applications. The company sought to distance itself from viral footage last year showing robot dogs being used in Chinese military drills. In a separate statement on Tuesday, it added that it has since patched a security vulnerability identified in its Go1 robotic dog models following reports of potential hacking risks.

KUALA LUMPUR, Companies linked to at least seven public-listed firms have received letters of notification from the Energy Commission (EC), naming them as shortlisted bidders under the latest Large-Scale Solar (LSS5+) programme. The shortlisted bids form part of 13 successful submissions out of 37 proposals received. To proceed, bidders must comply with the terms and conditions stipulated in the notification letters. According to stock exchange filings, an 80:20 consortium between Malakoff Corp Bhd and Solarvest Holdings Bhd has been awarded a project to develop a solar farm in Larut and Matang, Perak, with a capacity of 470MWac. Separately, a 51:49 consortium between Sunview Group Bhd and Cypark Resources Bhd has been shortlisted to build a 99.99MW solar photovoltaic plant in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. Another shortlisted consortium comprises Samaiden Group Bhd and JBB Builders (M) Sdn Bhd, which plans to develop a 99.99MW solar plant in Segamat, Johor. The consortium’s equity structure has yet to be disclosed. Industry sources also indicated that YTL Power International Bhd has been shortlisted for a 100MW solar farm in Kelantan, while Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) is expected to undertake one of the programme’s flagship projects – a large-scale floating solar farm. In total, the LSS5+ shortlist represents a combined capacity of 1,975MW, including one of Malaysia’s largest floating solar installations, with a planned capacity of 200MW. As with previous rounds, the selected LSS projects will supply electricity to the national grid under a 21-year power purchase agreement upon commissioning. Completion is targeted between 2027 and 2028, according to an earlier statement by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, which did not disclose the names of successful bidders.

PETALING JAYA, Singapore-based Entermind, positioned as the world’s first AI consulting firm to fuse data engineering with human experience, officially launched today. In its statement, Entermind said its multidisciplinary team brings together data engineers, AI and machine learning architects, insight strategists, and human experience designers—talent drawn from leading consultancies and startups worldwide. Beyond Singapore, the company will establish offices in Silicon Valley, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangalore. Apart from Singapore, Entermind will have offices in the Silicon Valley, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangalore. Founder Prashant Kumar said that with AI poised to disrupt the consulting industry, Entermind seeks to deliver a truly “native” approach to AI-driven business transformation—helping companies reimagine their products, capabilities, knowledge, processes, and competitive edge. Kumar, author of the bestseller Made in Future, explained that this transformation involves rethinking internal knowledge graphs, creating AI-native data architectures and ontologies, and building applications designed to solve real-world business challenges. “Most first-generation AI pilots are struggling to scale because they are still being approached in a legacy manner,” he said.“It’s crucial to understand that generative AI ‘speaks’ the same language as humans. To unlock its full potential for enterprises, we need an approach that is native to AI.” Entermind’s services will include harnessing and structuring data for AI-native knowledge and decision systems, designing AI-powered products and services, developing AI-led growth engines, and enabling AI-driven sales and customer service.

TOKYO, Japan Post Bank has announced plans to roll out a digital yen by the end of fiscal 2026, in a move aimed at enhancing convenience for its vast depositor base and further modernising the country’s financial infrastructure. The initiative underscores the growing momentum among Japanese financial institutions and corporates to embrace blockchain technology as a way to improve the speed, transparency, and efficiency of financial transactions. Japan Post Bank, one of the country’s largest deposit-taking institutions with approximately 190 trillion yen (US$1.29 trillion) in deposits, will introduce a digital currency known as DCJPY, developed by DeCurret DCP. The announcement was made in a joint statement released on Monday by the two companies. Once operational, depositors will be able to seamlessly convert their yen holdings into DCJPY, enabling instant settlement of digital securities, tokenised assets, and other blockchain-based instruments. This innovation is expected to provide customers with faster, more secure and transparent transaction options compared to traditional systems. “Our tokenised deposit currency under consideration will allow for instant and highly transparent transactions through blockchain technology,” Japan Post Bank and DeCurret DCP, a subsidiary of Internet Initiative Japan, said in their statement. Unlike stablecoins—which are privately issued cryptocurrencies typically pegged to fiat money—DCJPY is classified as a blockchain-based deposit currency fully backed at a 1:1 ratio by yen deposits. This means every unit of DCJPY in circulation will correspond to an equivalent amount of fiat yen held in reserve, ensuring stability and reducing risks associated with volatility. The planned launch of DCJPY places Japan Post Bank among the key players spearheading Japan’s transition into the era of digital finance. It also reflects broader government and industry efforts to strengthen the nation’s digital currency ecosystem in anticipation of the Bank of Japan’s potential issuance of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the future. With Japan’s ageing population increasingly turning to digital platforms and the financial sector under pressure to enhance efficiency, the introduction of DCJPY could accelerate the adoption of tokenised financial products and services in the domestic market. ($1 = 147.3300 yen)

KUALA LUMPUR, Clean energy services provider Samaiden Group Bhd has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Samaiden Sdn Bhd (SSB), has received a letter of award (LOA) worth RM290 million from Unique HEB Energy Sdn Bhd (UHESB) for a major renewable energy project in Hilir Perak. Samaiden said SSB will undertake engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning works for the development of a 95 megawatt alternating current large-scale solar photovoltaic power plant. According to Samaiden’s filing with Bursa Malaysia, the LOA covers the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) works for a 95 megawatt alternating current (MWac) large-scale solar photovoltaic (LSSPV) power plant. The project falls under the LSS5 programme approved by the Energy Commission in December 2024, which aims to accelerate Malaysia’s transition to clean energy through large-scale solar adoption. The company noted that work on the project will officially commence following the execution of the LOA. Both UHESB and SSB are expected to finalise a detailed EPCC contract within 60 days of the LOA acceptance, or on an alternative timeline mutually agreed upon by both parties. Samaiden further highlighted that the contract award will not affect its share capital or shareholding structure. However, it is anticipated to strengthen the group’s earnings outlook and contribute positively to its financial performance over the duration of the project. The deal marks another significant milestone for Samaiden, underscoring its position as a key player in Malaysia’s fast-growing renewable energy sector. With the RM290 million contract, the group is poised to expand its portfolio of large-scale solar projects, supporting both national sustainability goals and long-term value creation for its stakeholders.