KPJ Healthcare Berhad has unveiled its inaugural Kidney Transplant Service within its hospital network, a significant step in expanding access to specialised transplant care. This service, launched at Tawakkal Specialist Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is part of the KPJ Health System’s ongoing development of advanced clinical capabilities.

The new service offers kidney transplantation as a treatment option for patients with kidney failure, following a successful procedure earlier this year involving a living related donor. The procedure was conducted by a team of specialists, including Consultant Urologist Dr Norman Dublin and Professor Dr Azad Hassan Abdul Razack, supported by a multidisciplinary team of anaesthesiologists, radiologists, and critical care specialists.

Kidney transplantation is recognised as a crucial treatment for patients with advanced kidney disease, offering improved long-term outcomes and reduced reliance on dialysis compared to traditional therapies. The service is supported by an integrated care pathway, ensuring comprehensive care for both donors and recipients.

Chin Keat Chyuan, President and Managing Director of KPJ Healthcare, stated, “The launch of the Kidney Transplant Service marks an important milestone in the continued development of advanced clinical capabilities under the KPJ Health System. It reflects our commitment to broaden access to highly specialised treatment and strengthen the range of complex care available to patients across the KPJ network.”

This development underscores KPJ Healthcare’s commitment to enhancing its clinical offerings and providing comprehensive care solutions within its network.

Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Berhad (SME Bank) has significantly impacted nearly 1,000 asnaf entrepreneurs across Malaysia, generating approximately RM40m in income and creating 410 jobs through its iTEKAD ISHRAF programme. Launched in 2020 under Bank Negara Malaysia’s iTEKAD social finance framework, the initiative aims to enhance economic opportunities and entrepreneurial skills among asnaf and underserved communities.

The latest cohort of SME Bank iTEKAD ISHRAF 4.0 was celebrated recently, marking the programme’s ongoing expansion nationwide. Samad Majid Zain, Relief President and CEO of SME Bank, highlighted the programme’s success, stating, “The achievements of iTEKAD ISHRAF since 2020 demonstrate how Islamic social finance can create meaningful and lasting impact by strengthening entrepreneurial capabilities, increasing incomes and supporting business growth among asnaf and underserved communities.”

The programme, which began as a pilot with 20 entrepreneurs and RM250,000 in zakat funds, has expanded significantly. By 2023–2024, it had reached 400 entrepreneurs across 14 states with a budget of RM5.6m. For 2025–2026, the programme continues to support 420 entrepreneurs with RM9m in funding, including contributions from strategic partners like Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad and Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad.

SME Bank’s efforts also extend to strengthening Malaysia’s halal entrepreneurship ecosystem, with over RM2b in halal-related financing and initiatives like the HalalBiz Financing Programme. The bank’s commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship aligns with the MADANI Economic Framework, focusing on sustainable socio-economic development.

Malaysian biomass producer Weng Yat Resources Sdn Bhd has entered into a partnership with Japan-based Daya Synergy Borneo Co Ltd (DSB) to establish a biomass supply platform aimed at the Japanese market. The agreement, formalised through a memorandum of understanding signed in Kuala Lumpur, is expected to generate over RM60m in annual revenue once full-scale exports commence.

The initial commercial shipment is slated for early next year, with long-term supply agreements anticipated by the end of this year. An initial trial shipment of 10,000 metric tonnes of wood pellets is planned for this year, according to Weng Yat Resources’ executive director, Sunderaj Nagalingam. The company aims to capture a five per cent share of Japan’s biomass import market within three years.

The partnership will bolster Japan’s biomass power generation sector, which relies heavily on imported biomass fuels such as wood pellets, palm kernel shells (PKS), and Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) pellets. Japan’s demand for biomass is substantial, with an estimated seven million tonnes of PKS and nine million tonnes of wood pellets required annually.

DSB will facilitate market access for Weng Yat Resources, leveraging its established trade relationships with Japanese biomass trading companies and power producers. The collaboration also includes energy-related projects, such as a proposed 100MW Battery Energy Storage System in Hokkaido, valued at approximately $300m.

Weng Yat Resources, established in 2007, operates biomass production facilities across Malaysia. The company plans to expand its production capacity with new facilities in Klang and Sarawak by 2027.

Digital travel platform Agoda has unveiled some of Asia’s most affordable flight routes for the summer, highlighting Kuala Lumpur’s prominence as a key travel hub. Based on one-way bookings made between March and May for flights departing from June to August 2026, Kuala Lumpur to Penang emerged as the second most affordable domestic route, with fares starting at $10. For international travel, Kuala Lumpur to Singapore ranked third, with fares from $17.

These findings underscore Kuala Lumpur’s strategic role as a travel base, offering Malaysian travellers convenient access to both domestic and regional destinations. Penang continues to attract visitors with its rich food culture and short-break appeal, whilst Singapore remains a popular choice for quick cross-border trips. The affordable fares provide travellers with greater flexibility in planning mid-year getaways, balancing convenience, cost, and travel time.

Additionally, Kuala Lumpur features as a destination on other affordable international routes. Pekanbaru to Kuala Lumpur ranked second with fares from $16, and Ho Chi Minh City to Kuala Lumpur ranked seventh at $34. This highlights Kuala Lumpur’s ongoing appeal as an accessible city destination for regional travellers, whether for short urban breaks, onward travel, or visiting friends and family.

Fabian Teja, Country Director for Malaysia and Brunei at Agoda, commented, “Affordable flights to nearby destinations are more accessible than many travellers might expect. Routes like Kuala Lumpur to Penang or Singapore show that a short getaway doesn’t have to stretch the budget.” Agoda’s platform allows travellers to search flights alongside accommodation and activities, simplifying trip planning to fit both plans and budget.

OCBC has announced a groundbreaking service allowing Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents to open business accounts with OCBC Malaysia using Singpass, the national digital identity. This new digital process reduces the account opening time from three weeks to just five working days, marking the first instance of Singpass being utilised beyond Singapore’s borders.

The initiative comes as more Singaporeans and Singapore PRs are establishing or expanding businesses in Malaysia, particularly in sectors like food and beverage and manufacturing. From 2023 to 2025, OCBC Malaysia experienced over 10% annual growth in SMEs with Singaporean or Singapore PR owners. This trend is expected to continue with the development of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone.

Previously, opening a business account in Malaysia required manual documentation or an in-person visit, taking up to three weeks. Now, the process is fully digital, with OCBC conducting necessary Know Your Customer checks after the application is submitted. For businesses with Malaysian directors, identity verification will be done using MYKAD, Malaysia’s official identification.

Carmen Chan, Deputy Head of Global Transaction Banking at OCBC, stated, “Leveraging Singpass, which the Singaporean directors are already familiar with, makes sense. It streamlines the process greatly and frees our customers to focus on what matters most – leading their teams and driving business growth.”

This service is expected to enhance cross-border business activities and provide a seamless banking experience for customers with accounts in both Singapore and Malaysia, offering single sign-on access to view accounts on a unified dashboard.

Sarawak has reaffirmed its position as a regional hydrogen hub with the launch of the Asia Pacific Green Hydrogen Conference and Exhibition (APGH) 2026. The event, inaugurated by Sarawak’s Premier, Abang Johari Tun Openg, underscores the region’s commitment to advancing hydrogen development and supporting the global energy transition.

The three-day conference, themed “Empowering The Future: Delivering a Resilient Hydrogen Ecosystem,” gathers policymakers, industry leaders, investors, and technology experts to explore the hydrogen economy’s opportunities and challenges across the Asia-Pacific. Hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the event is organised by Borneo Business Connect Sdn Bhd, with support from Business Events Sarawak and the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau.

A key highlight was the Visionary Dialogue featuring the Premier of Sarawak, moderated by Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director Emeritus of the International Energy Agency. The Premier outlined Sarawak’s strategy to leverage its renewable energy resources, including hydropower, natural gas, water, and biomass, to position itself as a clean energy hub. He emphasised the importance of regional energy integration and cross-border electricity export initiatives, aiming for up to 10GW of electricity exports by 2030.

The conference continues with sessions on policy development, technology innovation, and industry collaboration, aiming to strengthen regional cooperation and accelerate the development of a sustainable hydrogen value chain in the Asia-Pacific region.

CIMB Bank Berhad has signed a Letter of Intent with China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited to bolster financial connectivity between China and ASEAN, focusing on Malaysia and Indonesia. This collaboration seeks to facilitate bilateral trade, cross-border financing, and investment flows by leveraging China CITIC Bank’s strong onshore network and CIMB’s extensive ASEAN presence.

The partnership aims to provide clients with seamless access to a wide range of banking solutions, including trade transactions, payments, and cross-border financing. Additionally, it will support Chinese Yuan Renminbi and foreign currency payment capabilities, potentially offering access to China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System. This initiative is expected to enhance financial linkages across the China-ASEAN corridor.

Both banks will also explore head-office-level communications to streamline treasury and cash management services, improving operational coordination. This will enable clients to manage cross-border transactions more efficiently as they expand across the region. Furthermore, the partnership includes mutual client referrals and advisory services to assist clients in navigating market entry and regulatory requirements.

Chu Kok Wei, CEO of Group Wholesale Banking at CIMB, stated, “As trade, investment, and supply chain linkages between China and ASEAN continue to deepen, businesses increasingly require banking partners that can help them navigate both markets more seamlessly.”

The collaboration also plans to explore syndicated loans across global markets, broadening clients’ access to regional and international financing opportunities. This strategic alliance underscores the commitment of both banks to support their clients’ growth ambitions in one of the world’s most dynamic economic corridors.

PPB Properties, in collaboration with Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Selangor and the Selangor Committee on Resuscitation Training, is set to host a community health campaign at Cheras LeisureMall on 20 and 21 June 2026. The initiative, “Together for Health,” seeks to address Malaysia’s rising heart health concerns by equipping the public with lifesaving CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) skills.

The campaign will offer CPR and AED training to 1,200 participants aged 12 and above, conducted by certified trainers. This comes as Malaysia grapples with alarming health statistics, including one in six adults living with diabetes and nearly one in three with hypertension and high cholesterol, according to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023. The event aims to improve the country’s out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates, which currently stand below 5%.

In addition to emergency response training, the event will feature health screenings, talks by medical practitioners, and interactive fitness challenges. These activities aim to foster a culture of preventive healthcare and wellness across all age groups.

The campaign builds on the success of the Selangor Heart Safe initiative, which trained nearly 700 people in April 2025. Participation in the training sessions is free, with online pre-registration encouraged. This initiative underscores the importance of early health intervention and public awareness in combating chronic diseases and improving emergency preparedness.

Digital Realty, the world’s largest cloud- and carrier-neutral data centre platform, has announced the launch of its operations in Malaysia, marking a pivotal step in its Southeast Asia expansion. The company plans to develop a multi-site campus in Cyberjaya, scaling its data centre capacity to approximately 32 megawatts (MW) to support AI, hybrid cloud, and data-intensive workloads.

The Cyberjaya campus will consist of three interconnected facilities: an upgraded carrier-dense facility, a newly acquired AI-ready data centre, and a future expansion site set for completion by mid-2028. These facilities will be supported by over 40 network service providers and integrated into Digital Realty’s global ecosystem of more than 300 data centres across 30 countries, including key hubs like Singapore and Jakarta.

The initiative aligns with Malaysia’s ambitions to become a leading digital infrastructure and AI hub in Southeast Asia. Gobind Singh Deo, Malaysia’s Minister of Digital, highlighted the importance of such investments, stating, “Digital Realty’s investment marks an important step in strengthening Malaysia’s position as a sovereign, interconnected and sustainable digital infrastructure hub.”

Digital Realty’s Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Serene Nah, emphasised the strategic importance of Malaysia as an interconnection hub, saying, “As digital adoption accelerates and AI-driven workloads become more distributed and latency-sensitive, customers require infrastructure that is scalable and deeply interconnected.”

The development is expected to bolster Malaysia’s digital economy, supporting innovation and attracting investment, whilst enabling seamless connectivity and workload deployment across the region.

Password stealer attacks targeting Malaysian businesses surged by 33% in 2025, according to new findings from cybersecurity firm Kaspersky. With 244,061 attacks detected last year, Malaysia ranks as the second most affected market in Southeast Asia, trailing only Vietnam. Across the region, over 1.5 million such attacks were recorded, marking an 18% increase from 2024.

These attacks involve malware designed to extract passwords and account information, often used to infiltrate business environments without detection. Kaspersky’s Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Adrian Hia, noted, “Password stealers remain one of the most effective tools in a cybercriminal’s arsenal because they target the front door of every organisation: user credentials.”

The threat is exacerbated by the common practice of storing sensitive information digitally. A recent survey by Kaspersky revealed that 61% of Malaysian respondents store sensitive data digitally, and 44% use simple passwords. The Philippines experienced the highest surge in attacks at 41%, followed by Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Thailand, however, saw a decrease of 21%.

To combat these threats, Kaspersky recommends the use of password managers, multi-factor authentication, and regular credential audits. The company also advises organisations to adopt advanced security platforms and keep software updated to minimise risks. As cyber threats evolve, aligning internal processes with the latest threat intelligence is crucial for maintaining security.