Inovatif

Category: lifestyle

  • TikTok Shop and KPDN introduce #ShopSafe Tips

    TikTok Shop and KPDN introduce #ShopSafe Tips

    TikTok Shop has partnered with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) to spread awareness on #ShopSafe tips for online scam prevention. #ShopSafe is part of a wider online scam awareness initiative by TikTok Shop to empower Malaysians through education.

    YB Datuk Armizan bin Mohd Ali, Minister of KPDN, emphasised, “We are delighted to partner with TikTok Shop to educate Malaysians on best practices when shopping online and to empower them with the right knowledge and tools to #ShopSafe digitally. We have found that a large majority of reported e-commerce scams were conducted outside of legitimate online shopping platforms and apps, where bad actors redirect consumers off-platform to complete transactions, either through phone numbers, suspicious links, or direct debits. TikTok Shop’s dedication to championing the rights and safety of consumers is commendable, and we look forward to combating online scams together.”

    TikTok Shop Malaysia’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, Nur Azre Abdul Aziz, echoed the sentiment: “Safety is our top priority at TikTok Shop. We continuously invest in people and technologies for Malaysians to enjoy worry-free and secure online shopping experiences, such as through our robust 15-Day Free Return and Refund Policies. In the first half of 2024, we proactively rejected 20.4 million attempted product listings and two million seller account registrations globally that did not meet our standards. Combatting online scams is a collaborative effort and we are immensely thankful to KPDN for their support in educating Malaysians on our #ShopSafe tips. Together, we can keep our community informed and up to date on new scam trends, along with ways to safeguard each other against it.”

    The #ShopSafe tips introduced by TikTok Shop and KPDN include:

    1. Avoid Off-Platform Purchases.
    • TikTok Shop users should conduct all online purchases using only the official app to ensure their protection against scams. TikTok Shop strictly enforces its Product Listing Guidelines and Seller Registration Guidelines, which help to prevent violative products and sellers on the platform. Policies such as the Platform Abuse Policy, Anti-Counterfeit Policy, and TikTok Shop Mall’s 100% Authenticity Guarantee, actively detect and minimise any potential fraudulent activities and deceptive behaviours on the platform.
    • Users should ensure that all online transactions are conducted through TikTok Shop’s secure in-app payment gateways. All purchases can then be verified and tracked on the in-app order history, even when opting for Cash-On-Delivery (COD) transactions.
    • Users should not download TikTok’s apps via external links or APK files. Download TikTok’s apps (which are listed ‘by TikTok Pte. Ltd.’) via the official website (https://www.tiktok.com) and platforms, including the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Be wary of suspicious links and misspelled websites.
    • By adhering to these #ShopSafe tips, users can avoid common scams, such as false advertising, phishing, COD scams, brushing scams, malware, and more

    2. Never Share Sensitive Personal Information With Other People.

    • Users can familiarize themselves with TikTok Shop’s Privacy Policy, which transparently outlines how TikTok Shop protects user data.
    • Users should be vigilant and avoid disclosing sensitive personal information to other people, especially potential scammers pretending to be TikTok Shop employees, authorities, or government officials. TikTok Shop will never ask for users’ sensitive personal information, such as passwords, TACs, and debit/credit card details through direct messaging, phone calls, or emails.
    • As an additional layer of protection, users should activate the 2-step verification feature on the TikTok app, which protects their accounts even when passwords are compromised.
    • With these helpful tips, Malaysians can prevent themselves from falling victim to Macau scams, phone scams, account takeovers, and more.

    3. Report Violative Behaviours In-App.

    • Users are encouraged to directly report violative products, content, and sellers on TikTok Shop via the in-app reporting channel, available on every product display page.
    • Users can also reach out to live agents in-app for enquiries about their TikTok Shop orders, via the Help Center page.
    • TikTok Shop is governed by robust 15-Day Free Return and Refund Policies, which facilitate simplified and fair after-sales requests for customers facing issues with their orders on the platform. TikTok Shop does not tolerate any fraudulent or unlawful activities on its platform.

    For more information on TikTok Shop Malaysia, please visit:

    @tiktokshop_my

  • ARC Group commemorates 10 Years with flagship forum in Kuala Lumpur

    ARC Group commemorates 10 Years with flagship forum in Kuala Lumpur

    ARC Group recently hosted the Capital Markets & M&A Forum 2025: Malaysia Edition, bringing together over 400 distinguished guests, including senior executives, investors, legal and advisory professionals and entrepreneurs.

    Themed around growth, strategy, and cross-border collaboration, this year’s forum offered timely insights into Southeast Asia’s evolving financial landscape, bridging capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and long-term economic strategy.

    The event featured international expertise as speakers and panelist, including Arc Group’s local venture partner, Paul Chong who provided a strategic deep dive into “Going Public – Choosing Between IPO, RTO, and De-SPAC. Drawing on his vast experience in global capital markets, Paul Chong delivered a nuanced comparison of public listing routes, offering actionable insights for Malaysian and regional companies considering international capital markets.

    Other featured sessions include topics such as ‘Company Preparations for Going Public’, “From Startup to Exit” and “The Future of M&A in Emerging Asia”. The Forum was closed by Xi Zhang, Partner at ARC Group who delivered a thought-provoking keynote on “China 2030 and Implications for Southeast Asia”, offering macroeconomic lens on China’s long-term transformation and actionable takeaways for ASEAN businesses navigating trade shifts, digital acceleration, and supply chain evolution.

    The event also marked the firm’s 10th anniversary. Carlos Lopez, COO of ARC Group commented, “These events have always held a special place for us—not just as platforms for sharing insights, but for building lasting relationships. This year’s forum was particularly meaningful as we marked ARC Group’s 10-year anniversary. It was a proud moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, and an inspiring one to envision where we’re headed next.”

  • Tune Protect and Ticket2U unveil ticket refund insurance

    Tune Protect Malaysia (Tune Protect), a leading digital insurer, has partnered with Ticket2U, Malaysia’s premier ticketing platform, to introduce Ticket Refund Insurance for events in Malaysia. The comprehensive plan covers tickets for a wide range of events, including conferences, marathons, runs, concerts, festivals, and sports tournaments, ensuring ticket holders receive a full refund if unforeseen circumstances prevent them from attending. This initiative reinforces Tune Protect’s commitment to delivering customer-centric solutions and enhancing the overall event experience.

    Covering a comprehensive range of unexpected situations, Ticket Refund Insurance protects attendees from disruptions such as medical emergencies, accidental death, home emergencies like fire or burglary, natural disasters, and sudden unemployment, ensuring that ticket buyers are not financially burdened. The coverage also extends to road accidents, vehicle breakdowns on the way to the event, as well as other unforeseen circumstances.

    “The launch of Ticket Refund Insurance is a game-changer for eventgoers, giving them the confidence to book tickets without the fear of the unexpected disrupting their plans. This innovative protection plan reinforces our commitment to making insurance simple, seamless and accessible to everyone. With event attendance on the rise, we are ensuring that customers can fully enjoy their favourite events stress-free, knowing they have a reliable safety net in place,” said Jubin Mehta, Chief Executive Officer, Tune Protect Malaysia.

    “At Ticket2U, we are focused on elevating the ticketing experience, and Ticket Refund Insurance marks a significant step towards setting a new industry standard. This protection gives ticket buyers greater assurance, knowing they are covered if the unexpected happens, while also reinforcing trust between event organisers and attendees. By reducing financial risk and making ticket purchases more secure, we are enhancing confidence in event attendance and supporting a more dynamic, worry-free event experience for all,” said YC Chia, Managing Director, Ticket2U Sdn Bhd

    For sports enthusiasts, Sports PA (Personal Accident Insurance) is available as an optional add-on, providing financial protection for accidental injuries sustained during sports-related events, ensuring peace of mind while staying active.

    Jubin added, “By embedding protection seamlessly into the event ticketing journey, Ticket2U and Tune Protect are setting a new industry standard for consumer protection against unexpected events while enhancing overall customer experience with greater confidence and ease.”

    Available to all Ticket2U customers purchasing event tickets, this insurance is available to a wide range of events, including concerts, sports matches, exhibitions and festivals at only 5% of the ticket price. Purchasing Ticket Refund Insurance is quick and effortless where eventgoers can:

    1. Select an event ticket on Ticket2U.
    2. Opt-in for ‘Ticket Refund Insurance’ at checkout.
    3. Complete the purchase, and coverage is automatically activated.

    The claims process is equally seamless:
    1. Submit a claim directly to Tune Protect with the required documentation.
    2. Claims are processed, and eligible refunds are issued promptly.

    For more information on Ticket Refund Insurance, visit www.ticket2u.com.my and click the “Read More” button on eligible event pages.

  • SC issues revised guidelines on advertising for capital market products and related services

    The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) today released a revised version of the Guidelines on Advertising for Capital Market Products and Related Services.

    The Guidelines was revised to update certain requirements and guidance taking into account advertising and promotional trends globally and domestically, including the growing prominence of social media and financial influencers (finfluencers).

    This is towards ensuring responsible advertising activities in relation to capital market products and services.
    The revised framework will include:

    • New requirements relating to finfluencers who are not engaged as marketing agents by an advertiser yet on their own accord undertake advertising activities for any capital market products and services. They will be subject to the requirements under the Guidelines as they would be regarded as advertisers for the purposes of the Guidelines;
    • Enhancement of requirements relating to advertisers’ duty to ensure the advertising activities conducted by their marketing agent comply with the Guidelines. The advertisers will otherwise be held accountable for the conduct of their marketing agent; and
    • Enhancement of requirements relating to use of social media to address its growing use for financial promotions.

    The Guidelines will also impose a prohibition against advertising services in Malaysia, of persons who are not authorised by the SC.

    The Guidelines is part of the SC’s ongoing efforts to promote responsible advertising on new channels of advertising such as social media, ultimately protecting investors.

    In reviewing and formulating the revised Guidelines, the SC has, amongst others, benchmarked against other jurisdictions such as Australia, the UK and Singapore, and considered the feedback received from engagement with relevant stakeholders including finfluencers.

    The revised Guidelines will come into effect on 1 November 2025 to allow sufficient time for advertisers to familiarise and make the necessary preparations to meet the new requirements.

    Meanwhile, the relevant stakeholders may engage the SC for any clarification and guidance relating to the revised Guidelines. Any queries on the revised Guidelines may be submitted to AdGuidelines@seccom.com.my.

    The revised Guidelines can be downloaded together with its revised FAQs at https://www.sc.com.my/regulation/guidelines/advertising-and-promotion.

  • ACMF releases simplified guidance for ASEAN SMEs in supply chains

    The ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) has launched the ASEAN Simplified ESG Disclosure Guide for SMEs in Supply Chains (ASEDG) Version 1. Aimed at equipping small to medium enterprises (SMEs) across ASEAN operating within global and local supply chains, it is a simplified reference guide to report on environmental, social and governance disclosures (ESG) to various stakeholders including customers, financiers and investors.

    It streamlines and consolidates various global ESG reporting frameworks, such as the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards and the Global Reporting Initiative Standards, as well as local guidelines and frameworks of each of the ten ASEAN member states into a set of 38 priority disclosures which SMEs can consider tracking and reporting against.

    It is further categorised into Basic, Intermediate and Advanced, to cater to the different levels of sustainability maturity of each SME. The disclosures are applicable across all industries with different levels of priority, and SMEs are encouraged to determine the significance and relevance of these disclosures to their companies.

    Mohammed Faiz Azmi, Chairman of the Securities Commission Malaysia and the 2025 Chair of the ACMF said, “SC Malaysia as the Chair of the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) is pleased to initiate development of this guide as a valuable contribution to our ASEAN counterparts. The ACMF remains committed to fostering sustainable and inclusive growth across the region. We encourage SMEs, investors, and all stakeholders to leverage this guide as a catalyst for meaningful ESG adoption.”

    Publication of the ASEDG is one of Malaysia’s Priority Economic Deliverables on “Catalysing Access to Financing for a Climate Resilient and Just Transition in ASEAN”, as 2025 ASEAN Chair. It also complements ACMF’s ongoing efforts to promote corporate sustainability disclosure, a priority recommendation under the ACMF’s Roadmap for ASEAN Sustainable Capital Markets, by serving as a practical resource tool which SMEs in supply chains can consider using to progress in their sustainability reporting journey.

    The ASEDG Version 1 incorporates inputs and feedback from all ACMF members and findings from engagements with multiple stakeholders across ASEAN Member States. As global sustainability standards, customer demands and ESG compliance requirements evolve, it is important to ensure that the Guide remains fit for purpose.

    As such, the ASEDG is a living document which may be revised from time to time to ensure it remains relevant. This document serves as Version 1 of the ASEDG with further consultations planned across ASEAN Member States over the next 6 months.

    The ASEDG Version 1 can be found on the ACMF website, here: https://www.theacmf.org/sustainable-finance/publications

  • TikTok Shop collaborates with ASEAN Foundation and ASEAN-BAC to empower MSMEs

    TikTok Shop continues its commitment to empower Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through its latest collaboration with the ASEAN Foundation and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) through the SOAR Together Program (Supporting Our Artisans and Retailers).

    The collaboration aims to leverage on relevant expertise to drive digital transformation and economic inclusion for MSMEs, providing tailored support and resources to help participating MSMEs rapidly advance their businesses and creative endeavors on TikTok Shop within their own markets as well as regionally, enabling growth and sustainable development.

    MSMEs play a crucial role in employment generation, income contribution, and local economic resilience. Across ASEAN, there are approximately 70 million MSMEs, accounting for between 97.2% and 99.9% of total establishments. Despite their significant presence, MSMEs often face challenges such as limited access to finance, inadequate business skills, and insufficient market linkages, which can hinder their growth and sustainability.

    TikTok Shop gives people a place to translate the excitement of discovering unique products and sellers into impactful transactions that spark joy for both buyers and sellers, all without leaving the app. The ASEAN SOAR Together programme is another major step in TikTok’s ongoing efforts to address the unique needs of small businesses and creators in Southeast Asia.

    The ASEAN SOAR Together programme is also aligned with the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development 2016-2025 that aims to transform SMEs from domestic players into globally competitive and innovative enterprises by 2025, as well as the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 that recognises Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as a key driver in ASEAN’s economic and social transformation.

    More details of the ASEAN SOAR Together programme can be found at this link: https://www.aseanfoundation.org/call_for_application_asean_soar_together

  • Alibaba Cloud strengthens AI capabilities with for international customers

    Alibaba Cloud strengthens AI capabilities with for international customers

    Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, unveils new AI models, tools and infrastructure upgrades for its international customers, underscoring its ongoing commitment to driving AI innovation worldwide.

    “We are launching a series of Platform-as-a-Service（PaaS) and AI capability updates to meet the growing demand for digital transformation from across the globe. These upgrades allow us to deliver even more secure and high-performance services that empower businesses to scale and innovate in an AI-driven world,” said Selina Yuan, President of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.

    Alibaba Cloud announced new offerings to international customers by expanding access to its foundational models and upgrading infrastructure products. Available through the company’s availability zones in Singapore, these models include the latest from its proprietary large language model (LLM) series, Qwen, such as the large-scale Mixture of Experts (MoE) model Qwen-Max, the reasoning model QwQ-Plus, the visual reasoning model QVQ-Max and the end-to-end multimodal model Qwen2.5-Omni-7b.

    QwQ-Plus is an advanced reasoning model specialising in deep analytical thinking, tackling complex challenges like sophisticated QA tasks and expert-level math problems with precise, algorithm-driven solutions. Meanwhile, QVQ-Max is a visual reasoning model that effectively addresses complex multimodal problems with high accuracy and extended reasoning capabilities, supporting visual input and chain-of-thought output.

    To further support the AI models on the PaaS front, Alibaba Cloud’s Platform for AI (PAI) has rolled out major enhancements to support scalable, cost-effective, and user-friendly solutions for generative AI and LLMs. PAI-Elastic Algorithm Service (EAS) debuts distributed inference capabilities with a multi-node architecture to satisfy the growing demands of super-large models fueled by the rise of MoE structure and ultra-long-text processing, addressing the limitations of traditional single-node architecture. To further boost performance and reduce costs, PAI-EAS introduces the prefill-decode disaggregation function which has led to a 92% increase in concurrency and a 91% boost in tokens per second (TPS) when deployed with the Qwen2.5-72B model, greatly improving scalability and efficiency.

    PAI-Model Gallery has been upgraded to provide a comprehensive selection of nearly 300 cutting-edge open-source models, including the full range of Alibaba Cloud’s proprietary open-source models Qwen and Wan series, all accessible through a seamless, no-code deployment and management experience. It offers diverse deployment methods with underlying computing resources, along with new features like model evaluation for performance insights and model distillation, which reduces deployment costs by transferring knowledge from large to small models.

    To enhance data management efficiency in the AI era, Alibaba Cloud has integrated its native AI inference capabilities – powered by Qwen – into its flagship cloud-native relational database PolarDB. With in-database machine learning capabilities, it eliminates data shifting typically required for inference workflow, significantly reducing processing latency while boosting efficiency and data security. Engineered for text-centric workloads, the new feature is ideal for scenarios including conversational RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) agent development, text embedding generation, and semantic similarity search.

    It also integrates its data warehouse AnalyticDB into Model Studio, Alibaba Cloud’s generative AI model and application development platform, as the recommended vector database for RAG solutions. This enhancement connects organizations’ proprietary knowledge bases directly to AI models and tools available on Model Studio, streamlining development of context-aware applications.

    Alibaba Cloud also launched a new AI search function on its official website. Powered by Qwen, this AI assistant is designed to help potential enterprise clients, especially SMEs, speed up their solution discovery and gain key insights to facilitate strategic decision-making. It also offers access to cost-effective and scalable cloud solutions, along with free AI and cloud computing training resources.
    Upgraded partner incentive policies were also introduced to better support resellers and distributors by providing increased flexibility, higher commission rates, and more rewarding opportunities for mutual growth. This commitment to empowering partners is further reinforced by enhanced training and support resources, designed to strengthen their capabilities and drive success within evolving ecosystem.

    In February 2025, Alibaba Group announced an investment of US $53 billion (RMB 380 billion) over the next three years to advance its cloud computing and AI infrastructure, reinforcing its commitment to long-term technological innovation. This historic investment, which exceeds Alibaba’s total AI and cloud spending over the past decade, underscores the company’s ongoing dedication to AI-driven growth and its role as a leading global cloud provider. Alibaba Cloud now operates a global infrastructure network with 87 availability zones across 29 regions.

  • RAM: Malaysian banks on steady footing despite external pressures

    RAM Ratings maintains a stable outlook on the Malaysian banking sector in conjunction with the release of its latest sector commentary, Banking Insight 2025 – Maintaining Momentum.

    While uncertainties from US protectionist measures and ongoing geopolitical tensions could spill over to the domestic economy, it is still too early to assess the full extent of these effects. With the US and China being key trading partners of Malaysia (approximately 14% of Malaysia’s total value-added production), the retaliatory tariff contest may dampen the positive trade momentum and Malaysia’s growth trajectory.

    “Despite these external challenges, we anticipate banks’ credit profiles to hold steady. Banks are also entering the year in strong shape, with still-solid capital buffers and asset quality at its most robust ever,” said Wong Yin Ching, RAM’s Co-head of Financial Institution Ratings.

    Key expectations:

    • Loan growth to hold steady at 5.5% in 2025. Household loans may ease slightly but will likely be the main driver of loan growth, while business loans increase from infrastructure projects and investments.
    • Capital reverting to pre-pandemic levels. The industry’s common equity tier-1 capital ratio declined to 14.3% as at end-2024 (2020-2023 average: 15.3%; end-2019: 14.6%), although still robust. Banks are cautiously raising dividends, with most estimating the impact of new Basel III reforms to be manageable.
    • GIL ratio to remain stable at 1.4% this year. The system’s gross impaired loan (GIL) ratio hit a historic low of 1.44% as at end-2024. Prudent underwriting and potential write-offs will help sustain the GIL ratio amid new challenges.
    • Funding and liquidity profiles to stay sound. As loan growth outpaced deposit growth, the sector’s loans to deposits ratio surpassed 90%. Other metrics like the liquidity coverage ratio and net stable funding ratio were kept healthy.
    • Moderate earnings increase in 2025. While 2024’s non-interest income surge may not repeat, banks are on track for moderate profit growth from stable credit expansion and a low credit cost of around 20 bps.

    RAM’s GDP growth expectation of 4.0%-5.0% for 2025 (2024: 5.1%), though slower, will be driven by domestic demand given favourable labour market conditions and accommodative interest rates.

    Investment activity will gain from progress on multi-year infrastructure projects and greater realisation of record-high levels of approved investments last year, as well as the ongoing rollout of catalytic initiatives under the national master plans. These factors are likely to stimulate business lending. On the retail front, home financing will continue to be a major growth contributor while auto lending is anticipated to normalise in line with the lower total industry volume forecast for 2025. “Beyond these, the overall loan growth trajectory will also inevitably depend on how global external risks and domestic adjustments to fuel subsidies and electricity tariffs unfold,” Wong adds.

    On the asset quality front, the weighted average credit cost ratio of eight selected local banks rated by RAM eased further to 18 bps in 2024 (2023: 23 bps). Banks’ loan loss coverage (with regulatory reserves) is strong, with the average of the eight banks improving to 143% as at end-2024 (end-2023: 134%)
    “Malaysian digital banks are also making a nascent mark on the industry, with all three operational banks ramping up deposit gathering efforts over the past year, driven by high-interest savings accounts,” said Sophia Lee, RAM’s Co-head of Financial Institution Ratings. Digital banks have also recently expanded their services to include lending, strategically focusing on specific customer segments.

    Expectedly, all three digital banks are still far from breaking even, with quarterly trends indicating that losses have yet to peak in view of high set-up costs. “The key hurdle for these banks lies in retaining tech-savvy and price-sensitive customers in a competitive market while managing acquisition costs and scaling up without assuming significant risks. Shareholders have so far demonstrated strong financial support, with all three players receiving additional capital injections in 2024,” Lee adds.

    RAM’s Banking Insight is available for download at www.ram.com.my.

  • Loob brings Tealive to Thailand

    Loob brings Tealive to Thailand

    Fresh from announcing the entry of Tealive into the enormous Indian market three weeks ago, Loob Holding Sdn Bhd (Loob) has revealed plans to open 80 outlets in Thailand over the next decade.

    Founder and CEO Bryan Loo said it has chosen a leading local food and beverage player, Restaurants Development Co. Ltd (RD), to be its Master Franchisee. RD currently operates over 300 Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets in Thailand.

    RD also happens to be a subsidiary of Devyani International Limited (DIL) of India which is the Master Franchisee for Tealive in India.

    In this breakthrough collaboration with DIL and RD, Loob has made India and Thailand the 9th and 10th overseas markets for Tealive, the top regional lifestyle tea brand and home-grown flagship of Loob.
    Loo expressed confidence that RD’s extensive network and industry expertise will provide a strong foundation for Tealive’s growth in Thailand.

    “Tealive, known for always offering more than tea, will introduce its lifestyle tea concept to Thailand, complementing the country’s rich tea culture with additional choices of handcrafted beverages like coffee, premium chocolate and fruit smoothies as well as Tealive’s famous snacks,” he said.

    “Our Thai partner is already present in hundreds of locations across the country, and Tealive will leverage this from the start. Actual store locations are still being finalised and, together, we aim for 80 outlets in 10 years.”

    Reflecting similarly strong confidence in the collaboration, RD CEO Andrew Norton said: “We look forward to work closely with Loob to bring Tealive’s dynamic and contemporary tea experience to Thai consumers. With our deep understanding of the breadth and depth of the local market and Tealive’s innovative product offerings, we believe this partnership will redefine how tea is enjoyed in Thailand.”

    Adding on, Loo said Tealive’s growth approach was centred on its strategic scalability. “Our priority is to adapt and expand efficiently by working closely with our local partner, ensuring that our brand resonates with Thai consumers while maintaining our commitment to quality and innovation.”

    With a strong presence of over 950 outlets in various regions, including Southeast Asia, Mauritius, Canada and soon in the Middle East and India, Tealive is now ready to establish itself in a country with strong local tea culture. Thailand’s vibrant tea market, predominantly shaped by local players, presents an exciting opportunity for Tealive to introduce new and modernised beverage options tailored to evolving consumer tastes.

  • Bengkel Inovasi GLC to catalyse innovation and economic growth

    Bengkel Inovasi GLC to catalyse innovation and economic growth

    The Ministry of Finance (MOF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) and Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle), announces the launch of the Bengkel Inovasi GLC (BIG), a transformative programme aimed at driving innovation across all Government-Linked Companies (GLCs). With a RM15 million allocation under Belanjawan 2025, this initiative represents a strategic step in advancing Malaysia’s economic reform agenda to ‘Raise the Ceiling’ under the GEAR-uP initiative, in alignment with the Ekonomi MADANI framework.

    GEAR-uP is a national initiative that unites Government-Linked Entities to drive growth in key economic sectors, supporting Malaysia’s structural reforms under Ekonomi MADANI. In its first phase, six leading GLICs pledged RM120 billion in domestic direct investments over five years, focusing on High-Growth, High-Value (HGHV) industries such as energy transition, advanced manufacturing, and technology ventures. These investments aim to build new economic ecosystems, enhance nation-building, and uplift both Malaysia’s economic stature and the Rakyat’s quality of life.

    BIG is designed to empower GLCs by fostering collaboration with startups, accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, and strengthening Malaysia’s economic competitiveness. By bridging the gap between corporate players and the startup ecosystem, the programme supports the nation’s aspiration to become one of the Top 20 global startup ecosystems by 2030 while generating high-value jobs and sustainable growth.

    YB Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Minister of Finance II, emphasised the programme’s role in driving economic transformation, “BIG is aimed at cultivating an ecosystem where innovation fuels economic transformation. This is another strategic growth lever that complements ongoing initiatives to catalyse domestic market growth and raise the ceiling under the Ekonomi MADANI framework. By enabling greater synergy between GLCs, investors, and startups, we aim to drive industry leadership and unlock new growth opportunities. This effort, aligned with our GEAR-uP initiative, underscores the Government’s focus on building a future-ready economy.”

    To ensure impactful results, the programme will leverage MOSTI’s National Technology and Innovation Sandbox (NTIS) and Cradle’s extensive startup ecosystem networks to identify and support high-potential innovation projects.

    YBhg. Dato’ Ts. Dr. Hj. Aminuddin Bin Hassim, Secretary General, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), reaffirmed MOSTI’s commitment to fostering innovation, “the BIG programme reflects our unwavering commitment to integrating advanced technologies, fostering entrepreneurial thinking, and creating opportunities for sustainable growth. By bridging the gap between GLCs, startups, and innovation leaders, this programme will unlock transformative solutions to address industry challenges, empower local talent, and drive progress in high-growth, high-value industries. In doing this, we hope to elevate Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem, position the nation as a regional hub for cutting-edge ideas, and contribute meaningfully to the broader Ekonomi MADANI vision.”

    Adopting a Two-Pronged Approach
    The Bengkel Inovasi GLC (BIG) programme will be executed in two phases:

    1. Innovation Partner & GLC Selection – By March 2025, five GLCs will be identified and matched with selected innovation partners, laying the groundwork for impactful collaboration.
    2. BIG Accelerator, which unfolds into two tracks:
      • ‘Venture Client Model’ – Focuses on refining problem statements with GLCs, identifying high-potential startups for a 6-month accelerator programme, and developing Proof of Concept (POC) solutions supported by a 1:1 matching POC convertible grant.
      • ‘Venture Co-Creation’ – Enables GLC teams to incubate new business ventures, fostering entrepreneurship and sustainable value creation. This track includes product development, piloting solutions with business units, and securing seed investments from GLCs, GLICs, and Venture Capitalists (VCs).

    The programme provides access to mentorship, funding, and technical expertise, equipping GLCs with the necessary tools to become regional innovation leaders. It is expected to spur growth in critical sectors, including energy, transportation and logistics, financial services, property, and plantations.

    Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO, Cradle, highlighted the programme’s role in fostering collaboration between startups and corporate Malaysia, “Cradle is proud to lead this pivotal programme in collaboration with MOF and MOSTI, marking a transformative step in Malaysia’s GLC innovation landscape. BIG is designed to foster meaningful collaboration between corporate Malaysia and the startup ecosystem, driving the adoption of groundbreaking technologies and creating new opportunities for economic growth. This initiative will be a key enabler as we aim to create an inclusive, globally competitive, and sustainable ecosystem in line with our vision to grow and strengthen Malaysia’s startup ecosystem.”