A recent survey by Xero reveals that 81% of Malaysian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have integrated artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations, with many anticipating its standardisation by 2030. Despite this high adoption rate, a significant confidence gap persists, as 82% of these businesses express a need for further education to harness AI effectively.

The survey, which involved 1,033 Malaysian MSMEs, highlights that whilst AI is seen as a tool for enhancing efficiency, cost savings, and productivity, only 56% of respondents are familiar with its various business applications. Concerns over data privacy, security, and ethical issues like plagiarism are prevalent, with 68% advocating for stringent government regulation of AI in business.

Xero’s findings suggest a shift in MSME priorities, with a growing demand for training and advisory support over financial aid. This presents an opportunity for government, industry bodies, and technology partners to provide practical frameworks and training programmes to facilitate strategic AI use. Koren Wines, Managing Director of Xero Asia, emphasised the importance of closing the confidence gap to enable MSMEs to leverage AI for sustainable growth.

As Malaysia aims to become an AI-driven economy by 2030, the role of MSMEs—comprising over 96% of the nation’s businesses—will be crucial. The report underscores the need for a supportive ecosystem to ensure these enterprises can navigate the AI landscape confidently and contribute to the country’s economic ambitions.

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group, has announced a new partnership to handle MASkargo’s operations at its London Heathrow hub. This collaboration, effective immediately, positions IAG Cargo as the ground handling agent for MASkargo, the cargo division of Malaysia Aviation Group, which specialises in comprehensive air cargo solutions.

The partnership sees all MASkargo shipments through London processed at IAG Cargo’s Premia facility, highlighting Heathrow’s strategic importance in the global air cargo network. MASkargo currently operates twice-daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and London, enhancing connectivity and service excellence.

Adam Carson, Chief Operations Officer at IAG Cargo, stated, “Welcoming MASkargo to our London Heathrow hub marks an important step as we continue to expand our third-party handling capabilities. With its strategic location, Heathrow is a prime gateway for MASkargo, and our hub offers exceptional airside access and world-class facilities.”

Mark Jason Thomas, CEO of MASkargo, added, “Partnering with IAG Cargo at London Heathrow marks another milestone in our journey to enhance global connectivity and service excellence. This collaboration not only reinforces our commitment to delivering reliability and quality for our customers but also strengthens MASkargo’s presence in one of the world’s key cargo hubs.”

The partnership is set to bolster IAG Cargo’s growth strategy and enhance its global handling capabilities, offering smoother transfer experiences and wider access to major destinations across Europe and the Americas.

Nam Cheong Limited, a leading offshore support vessel provider based in Sarawak, Malaysia, reported a 6% quarter-on-quarter increase in revenue for the third quarter of 2025, reaching RM170.8m. This growth was primarily driven by the commencement of long-term charters, which also saw vessel utilisation rise to 70% from 68% in the previous quarter.

The company’s gross profit increased by 3% qoq to RM87.5m, although the gross margin slightly decreased by 1.4 percentage points due to additional vessel operating costs related to scheduled maintenance. Despite this, the gross margin remained above 50%.

Nam Cheong’s CEO, Leong Seng Keat, highlighted the positive impact of long-term charters on vessel utilisation rates and revenue growth. “Building on this momentum, we remain focused on securing long-term contracts to achieve about 70% fleet coverage for stability,” he stated.

The company is also exploring fleet expansion opportunities to strengthen its market presence. With the global offshore support vessel fleet ageing and approaching replacement cycles, Nam Cheong is well-positioned to capture emerging opportunities, leveraging its shipbuilding capabilities.

Looking ahead, the company remains cautiously optimistic about its long-term growth prospects, supported by a solid and recurring cash flow from its chartering business. The local market faces structural supply constraints, and with Malaysia’s cabotage policies limiting foreign vessel participation, charter rates are expected to remain strong into 2026.

Gambit Custody, a regulated digital asset custodian, has partnered with global ESG technology expert GEN to introduce Malaysia’s first blockchain-driven sustainable energy investment framework. This initiative connects investors directly to real solar and green energy projects, ensuring full transparency and trust. The partnership was announced on 17 November 2025, with Ivy Fung, Foreign Digital Investments Manager at MDEC, attending the launch event in Kuala Lumpur.

The collaboration between Gambit Custody and GEN aims to reduce greenwashing risks by providing verifiable data on solar output, emissions reduction, and environmental performance. This data is tracked on-chain, offering reliable ESG reporting for Malaysian corporations. Datuk Clifford Hii, Group CEO of Gambit Group, stated, “Our first-of-its-kind partnership with GEN represents a major step towards bridging the gap between digital asset infrastructure and real-world sustainability.”

Key highlights of the partnership include the digitisation of green energy assets by GEN and their safeguarding by Gambit Custody. This initiative supports Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the target of achieving 70% renewable capacity by 2050. Ines Yong, Co-founder and CEO of GEN, remarked, “This partnership combines our strong expertise in the global ESG market and Gambit Custody’s unmatched infrastructure and market knowledge.”

By integrating GEN’s blockchain technology with Gambit Custody’s regulated infrastructure, the partnership seeks to accelerate credible green capital flows into Malaysia, aligning financial performance with verifiable climate outcomes.

Federal Express Corporation, a leading express transportation company, has expanded its intra-Asia network to meet the rising trade demand in Southeast Asia. This strategic move enhances connectivity, capacity, and agility for businesses across the region.

FedEx has introduced nonstop cargo flights connecting its Asia Pacific hub at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport with Penang International Airport. Operating five times a week, these Boeing B767 freighters provide dedicated inbound capacity to Penang, enabling importers to benefit from deliveries that are one hour earlier, thus improving supply chain efficiency.

In addition, FedEx has extended the pick-up cut-off time in Malaysia’s Klang Valley by one hour for Asia-bound shipments departing Kuala Lumpur, offering greater flexibility to local businesses. This is part of FedEx’s broader commitment to strengthening logistics capabilities in Southeast Asia.

The company has also increased its cargo capacity in Thailand by adding five weekly Boeing 767 freighter flights between Guangzhou and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. This expansion facilitates reliable access to markets across the Asia Pacific and beyond, via the South Pacific Hub in Singapore.

Salil Chari, senior vice president of Marketing and Customer Experience at FedEx, stated, “Asia Pacific is emerging as the powerhouse of global trade growth, with Southeast Asia fuelling some of the world’s most dynamic trade corridors.”

These enhancements come as ASEAN’s total merchandise trade reached $3.8t in 2024, with exports from ASEAN countries, China, Japan, and South Korea growing by 7% year-on-year in the first half of 2025. As Southeast Asia solidifies its role as a global manufacturing hub, FedEx’s network improvements are crucial in supporting the region’s trade momentum.

AWC Berhad, through its subsidiary Stream Environment (S) Pte Ltd, has been awarded a S$4.6m contract by the Housing & Development Board of Singapore for the design, build, and operation of a Pneumatic Waste Conveyance System. The contract, announced on 14 November 2025, is part of Project EW & FM and marks a significant addition to AWC’s portfolio in Singapore.

The contract is structured in two phases, each comprising design and construction works, expected to span 12 and 24 months respectively. This project is a testament to AWC’s growing influence in the Singaporean market, bolstering its order book and enhancing earnings visibility for the coming years. The Group’s CEO, Ahmad Kabeer bin Mohamed Nagoor, expressed satisfaction with the continued trust from HDB, a returning client, and highlighted that the cumulative major contract wins for FY26 now total approximately RM270m.

AWC’s Environment Division is poised for growth, leveraging its position as a leader in automated pneumatic waste collection systems. The global market for such systems is projected to grow significantly, with East Asia expected to see a compound annual growth rate of 8.3% by 2034. This favourable outlook provides a solid foundation for AWC to capture further growth opportunities in both domestic and regional markets.

The pneumatic waste collection industry is gaining momentum due to increasing urbanisation and regulatory support for sustainable waste management solutions. AWC’s patented shuttle system, which uses 70% less energy than traditional systems, positions the company well to meet these demands.

Allianz Life Insurance Malaysia Berhad (Allianz Life) has successfully concluded its 2025 Action Group Seminar & Recognition (AGSR) series, aimed at strengthening its agency network and enhancing customer value. The series, which included three seminars—two in Malaysia and one in Thailand—brought together over 3,000 Allianz Life Changers and guests. The events focused on strategic agency development and fostering a high-performing agency force.

Raymond Cheah, Allianz Life’s Chief Sales Officer, highlighted the importance of trust in their business. “We are in the business of protection and our customers rely on us to protect what matters most to them. This trust is earned through consistency, professionalism and empathy,” he stated. Cheah emphasised that equipping agents with the right skills and mindset is crucial for building a reliable foundation for customer trust.

The AGSR series celebrated top-performing agents and offered professional development opportunities through keynote sessions, panel discussions, and recognition ceremonies. These seminars also provided insights into leadership, innovation, and market trends, ensuring agents are prepared to meet the evolving needs of customers.

A significant component of Allianz Life’s strategy is the Allianz C.E.O. Programme, a 24-month initiative designed to develop high-potential individuals into agency leaders. This reflects the company’s commitment to nurturing a professional, customer-focused agency force.

By investing in talent development and customer-centric strategies, Allianz Life aims to sustain growth and meet the changing demands of its clientele.

CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad has announced a RM1m commitment to enhance conservation efforts in Malaysia’s Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve and Royal Belum State Park. This initiative, part of the EcoSave-i: Our Nature, Our Treasure programme, aims to expand environmental education, protect biodiversity, and engage local communities in Penang and Perak.

The renewed two-year partnership with The Habitat Foundation and Penang Institute will focus on revitalising the endangered Malayan gaur populations in Royal Belum State Park. This includes improving habitat conditions and collaborating with the local Orang Asli community for herd monitoring and habitat maintenance.

Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff, CEO of CIMB Islamic, expressed the bank’s dedication to safeguarding Malaysia’s ecosystems. “Through EcoSave-i, we aim to create inclusive and meaningful opportunities for communities to connect with nature,” he stated.

In Penang, the initiative will continue to protect biodiversity by installing wildlife canopy bridges to aid the movement of endangered species like the Dusky Langur. Public awareness and education will also be prioritised, with programmes designed to engage over 500 participants annually.

The partnership will also introduce sustainability innovations, such as Economical Food Waste Composters developed by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, to reduce food waste and support urban farming.

Since its launch in 2008, EcoSave-i has contributed over RM12m to conservation efforts across Malaysia. The public can support these initiatives by opening an EcoSave-i account, which channels 0.2% of the total average portfolio balance towards environmental projects.

Perfios.ai, a global B2B SaaS TechFin company, has announced the expansion of its Nexus 360 solution across Southeast Asia, unveiled at the Singapore FinTech Festival 2025. This advanced platform, designed for document processing and analysis, significantly reduces credit underwriting times to just 15 minutes, enabling automated Straight Through Processing (STP).

Perfios has formed strategic partnerships with leading Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC) in Malaysia and the Philippines. These collaborations mark a shift for Perfios from providing point solutions to offering comprehensive services like Nexus 360, aimed at transforming the lending sector in the region.

In Malaysia, Perfios is collaborating with a top digital lending platform to facilitate rapid credit decisions for retail and micro-SME borrowers. This initiative, which digitises onboarding and validates financial documents, has powered over $106 million (RM 500 million) in “safe financing.” The AI-driven Nexus platform automates income and risk assessments, paving the way for future expansion into SME financing.

Perfios’ deployments are part of broader digital transformation efforts across various institutions, achieving over 50% automation in credit assessment processes. This enhances fraud-risk management and scales operations across SME, commercial, and wholesale segments. Global CEO Sabyasachi Goswami highlighted the need for AI-led decision-making infrastructure, stating, “Lenders are standardising on Nexus to move from document collection to final decision in minutes, not days.”

Perfios, founded in 2008, serves over 1,000 financial institutions in more than 20 countries, delivering 8.2 billion data points annually. Headquartered in Malaysia, the company offers a suite of 75+ products and has received multiple global accolades for its innovative contributions to the financial industry.

The Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) has launched the Global Automotive and Technology Expo (GATE) 2025, a pivotal event in Kuala Lumpur, showcasing the latest advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and electric vehicle (EV) mobility. The expo, which began on 14 November, is part of Malaysia’s strategy to establish itself as the regional automotive hub in Southeast Asia.

Officiated by the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, GATE 2025 underscores Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening its automotive sector. The event highlights the nation’s efforts to support local vendors through localisation incentives aimed at bolstering the domestic supply chain. “The technologies, partnerships, and ideas presented here are already shaping the future of our nation’s mobility and manufacturing sectors,” said the minister.

Organised by MARii and Derrisen Sdn Bhd, GATE 2025 builds on the success of E-Mobility Asia and aims to elevate Malaysian manufacturers and suppliers to multinational status. Azrul Reza Aziz, CEO of MARii, stated, “We are setting the foundation to elevate Malaysian manufacturers and suppliers into multinational champions enabled by AI, digitalisation, and high-value innovation.”

The three-day expo features several key events, including the GATE Conference, which offers insights into ASEAN mobility and sustainability, and GATE Connect, an OEM-Vendor Automotive Exchange. Strategic partners such as Proton, Perodua, and GWM are participating, reinforcing Malaysia’s position in the automotive landscape.

With a strong foundation in semiconductor manufacturing and reserves of rare earth elements, Malaysia is well-positioned to achieve its National Automotive Policy 2020 targets, aiming for 20% EV adoption by 2030 and 80% by 2050. GATE 2025 is set to play a crucial role in shaping the future of AI-driven automotive technologies and sustainable smart mobility in the region.