WORQ, Malaysia’s leading coworking and flexible workspace provider, has achieved the country’s first WELL Coworking Rating at its newly opened WORQ Well in Aspire Tower, KL Eco City. This milestone highlights the increasing demand for health-centred work environments and marks a significant achievement for Malaysia’s flexible workspace sector. The 34,300 sq ft facility boasts high-end amenities, including a full-size swimming pool, designed to enhance member well-being.

Launched in 2024 by The Instant Group and the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the WELL Coworking Rating provides evidence-based strategies to create healthier and more engaging workspaces. The rating includes nearly 50 features across 10 concepts, such as air and water quality, light, and thermal comfort. WORQ’s achievement demonstrates its commitment to integrating health and well-being measures into its spaces, aligning with The Instant Group’s platform to help users make informed workspace decisions.

Sam Pickering, Executive Director at The Instant Group, commented on the achievement, stating, “WORQ’s achievement of the WELL Coworking Rating marks an exciting and important moment for Malaysia’s flex sector.” Stephanie Ping, Co-Founder and CEO of WORQ, added, “This is our most ambitious project yet, designed to help businesses attract and retain top talent.”

WORQ Well’s strategic location offers direct access to LRT and KTM stations, supporting hybrid and flexible work. The share of WORQ members commuting by public transport has increased from 20% in 2017 to 50% today, underscoring the facility’s role as a practical hub for modern work styles.

Carro, a leading automotive marketplace in Asia Pacific, has announced its new role as an authorised dealer for Dongfeng Motor Corporation, establishing exclusive showrooms in Sin Ming, Singapore, and Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. This strategic move marks a significant expansion in Carro’s brand-new car offerings, further solidifying its presence in the region.

The collaboration with Dongfeng Motor Corporation, facilitated through a partnership with Volt Auto, the sole distributor of Dongfeng vehicles, aims to deliver enhanced customer value. Carro’s robust customer relationship management ecosystem will support this initiative by providing competitive trade-in options, integrated financing, and insurance solutions. This partnership is expected to offer a seamless end-to-end ownership experience for Dongfeng customers.

Carro’s new showrooms will feature the latest models, including the Dongfeng VIGO, Dongfeng 007, and Dongfeng BOX. Each vehicle will come with authorised dealer warranties, alongside Carro’s financing and insurance packages. This development is part of Carro’s broader strategy to deepen its Brand New Car initiative, which now includes two automotive brands, Dongfeng and Zeekr.

The company plans to expand further, with additional showrooms set to open across Malaysia in the first half of 2026. This expansion underscores Carro’s commitment to enhancing its automotive ecosystem and marketplace in Southeast Asia.

Atome, Southeast Asia’s leading digital finance platform, has announced that users of the Atome Singapore app can now shop and pay in Malaysia using the same app. This new feature, unveiled on 10 February 2026, marks the first time Atome Singapore users can enjoy a seamless cross-border shopping experience. The app allows over 1.5 million users to shop at 15,000 Atome partner retail outlets across Malaysia by simply scanning the Atome QR code at checkout.

The bill, initially in Malaysian ringgit, is automatically converted to Singapore dollars at a competitive exchange rate and split into three interest-free payments. Additionally, purchases in Malaysia earn A reward points. This launch is timely, coinciding with the Chinese New Year festive season and major infrastructure projects like the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link, set to boost cross-border travel and retail activity.

Bryan Quek, General Manager of Atome Singapore, stated, “The launch of Atome’s cross-border functionality is especially timely with major infrastructure projects set to further boost cross-border travel and retail activity.” Atome Singapore users can now shop in cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and Penang.

Popular Atome merchants in Malaysia include electronics brands like Samsung and Xiaomi, fashion retailers such as Coach and Ralph Lauren, and sports outlets like Nike and Decathlon. From 11 to 28 February, Atome Singapore is running a Chinese New Year campaign offering a red packet lucky draw of up to S$888 and cashback capped at S$88. Terms and conditions apply.

Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) has announced a strategic partnership with OneHealth Cambodia, marking its first official initiative in Cambodia for 2026. This collaboration, launched during Malaysia Healthcare Week Phnom Penh 2026, is part of the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026, themed “Healing Meets Hospitality”. The initiative aims to enhance cross-border healthcare services by strengthening referral coordination and aligning patient care pathways.

The event featured representatives from Malaysia’s leading private hospitals, including Subang Jaya Medical Centre, which recently received the FMTH Brand Distinction Excellence Award, and the National Heart Institute, recognised for medical excellence. Other notable institutions involved were Sunway Medical Centre Penang, IHH Healthcare, Prince Court Medical Centre, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, MSU Medical Centre, and OPTIMAX Eye Specialist Centre.

The collaboration focuses on delivering seamless cross-border care and improving patient experiences through structured referral systems. These systems are designed to enhance patient outcomes by ensuring timely access to appropriate treatments and fostering effective communication between healthcare professionals in both countries.

“Cambodia is a particularly important partner for us,” stated Suriaghandi Suppiah, Chief Executive Officer of them MHTC, highlighting the significance of this partnership in expanding Malaysia’s healthcare reach. The initiative underscores Malaysia Healthcare’s commitment to working with trusted local partners to provide integrated, multidisciplinary care models that are internationally accredited.

This partnership is expected to pave the way for future collaborations, enhancing Malaysia’s position as a leader in medical tourism and offering Cambodian patients access to world-class medical facilities and expertise.

Nexus Global Payments (NGP) has appointed a joint venture between Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) and Network for Electronic Transfers Singapore (NETS) as the Nexus Technical Operator (NTO). This decision follows a competitive procurement process and represents a significant step in establishing a global payments infrastructure. The NTO will be responsible for building, operating, and maintaining the Nexus infrastructure, ensuring compliance with global standards, and enhancing cybersecurity and operational resilience.

The joint venture was chosen due to the proven track record of both ASEAN payment networks and their commitment to innovation. The NTO will collaborate with Amazon Web Services and Endava to deliver the technical design and development of the Nexus platform. This collaboration aims to ensure that Nexus meets international standards and is scalable from the outset.

Andrew McCormack, CEO of NGP, stated, “Our partnership with PayNet and NETS is a major milestone towards our vision for an interoperable global payments network.” Praveen Rajan, CEO of PayNet, expressed pride in being part of this initiative, highlighting Malaysia’s growing role in enabling cross-border payments. Lawrence Chan, Group CEO of NETS, noted the appointment as a vote of confidence in Singapore’s role in advancing payment innovation.

The selection of the NTO marks progress towards Nexus’s first live deployment, with technical development set to begin in early 2026 and a go-live target in 2027. Nexus aims to simplify cross-border payments by connecting domestic real-time payment systems, reducing costs, and enabling instant international transactions.

AWC Berhad, a leading engineering services group, has secured three contracts for automated pneumatic waste collection systems (AWCS) in Malaysia and Singapore. The contracts, awarded to subsidiaries Stream Environment Sdn. Bhd. and Stream Environment (S) Pte. Ltd., were finalised on 14 January, 5 February, and 6 February 2026. These projects are expected to enhance AWC’s market presence and contribute positively to its earnings until their completion in August 2029.

The Group’s CEO, Ahmad Kabeer bin Mohamed Nagoor, highlighted the significance of these wins, particularly noting a project for a public facility in Singapore. “This underscores the confidence placed in our technical expertise and our ability to meet stringent operational requirements,” he stated. The contracts bring AWC’s cumulative wins in FY26 to approximately RM450m, providing clear earnings visibility.

AWC’s Environment Division is a global leader in AWCS, having completed notable projects such as the world’s tallest AWCS at Merdeka 118. The Group anticipates continued growth in Malaysia and expects the Singapore market to offset a slowdown in the Middle East. The increasing emphasis on sustainability and efficiency in urban environments presents growth opportunities for modern waste management solutions, with AWCS becoming integral to urban infrastructure.

AWC Berhad, headquartered in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, operates in facilities management, environment, engineering, and rail sectors across Asia and the Middle East.

Oxford Innotech Berhad, an integrated engineering solutions provider, has secured a second data centre contract worth RM4.8m through its subsidiary, CG Solutions Enterprise Sdn Bhd. The contract, awarded by the Singaporean office of an Australia-based data centre specialist, involves supplying critical steel infrastructure and metal precision components for an advanced airflow management system. The end-user is a leading global cloud and e-commerce platform.

The Managing Director of Oxford Innotech, Ng Thean Gin, expressed enthusiasm about the rapid succession of contracts, stating, “It is certainly very encouraging for us to have clinched our second data centre project from the same customer within a span of three weeks.” This latest contract brings the company’s total data centre-related wins to RM9.6m.

Ng also highlighted the company’s strategic focus on expanding its offerings beyond airflow management systems. “We are actively pursuing the qualification of other precision components for a wide range of data centre products offered by our Australian client,” he said, indicating potential for further opportunities.

The contract is set to commence this month, with completion anticipated by the end of 2026, which is expected to positively impact the company’s earnings. Oxford Innotech, listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia since July 2025, raised RM41.6m to support its growth ambitions in capacity expansion and capability enhancement.

Headquartered in Penang, Oxford Innotech specialises in precision engineering components, mechanical assembly, and automation solutions, serving industries such as semiconductor, automotive, and modular building systems.

Allianz Malaysia Berhad, in collaboration with Yayasan Kajian dan Pembangunan Masyarakat (YKPM), reports significant progress in its Orang Asli Sustainable Livelihood Green Economy Programme. Launched in 2024, the initiative aims to empower Orang Asli communities in Pekan, Pahang, by fostering self-sustaining social enterprises through agroforestry, enhancing food security, and helping them rise above poverty.

The programme expanded in August 2025, now reaching 70 farmers from 42 households and benefiting 1,318 villagers across six villages. This phase focuses on collective farming, centralised infrastructure, efficient logistics, and leadership development.

By January 2026, the programme has enabled 42 Orang Asli families to generate substantial income, with ongoing investments in infrastructure for long-term sustainability. Allianz Malaysia CEO Sean Wang stated, “At Allianz Malaysia, we believe true empowerment happens when communities are given the tools, confidence and opportunities to lead their own progress.”

YKPM Managing Director Kon Onn Sein highlighted the impact of Allianz Malaysia’s financial support, which has allowed YKPM to enhance its support for the Orang Asli community, fostering self-sufficiency and economic growth. The funding also aids in building a sustainable programme that contributes to poverty alleviation and social transformation.

The initiative underscores Allianz Malaysia’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, aiming to create lasting positive impacts on the Orang Asli communities by equipping them with the necessary resources and opportunities for sustainable development.

Professor Dou Dejing, Chief Scientist at Beijing Electronic Digital Intelligence (BEDI), recently presented China’s AI industry practices at the China-ASEAN AI High-Level Seminar in Kuala Lumpur. The event, co-organised by several engineering and academic institutions, gathered nearly 150 representatives to discuss AI technologies and regional cooperation.

During his keynote, Professor Dou highlighted BEDI’s strategy of using full-stack AI capabilities to drive industrial upgrades. He detailed BEDI’s framework, which includes one AI foundation and two industry platforms, tailored to specific cities and industries. This approach has been applied in various sectors, including healthcare and manufacturing, offering ASEAN participants a reference for industry transformation.

BEDI’s initiatives include the Beijing Digital Economy Computing Power Centre, which supports innovation in Chaoyang District’s audiovisual industry, and a partnership with the China-Japan Friendship Hospital to enhance service efficiency. In Foshan, BEDI’s AI-enabled manufacturing base uses intelligent computing to reduce costs and improve efficiency, with projections of generating significant revenue growth.

Professor Dou emphasised BEDI’s commitment to ethical AI and open collaboration, aiming to build a China-ASEAN AI ecosystem through technology transfer and joint research and development. This model, he noted, provides a practical path for AI-powered transformation in Southeast Asia, supporting regional digital transformation and fostering new cooperation landscapes.

Asia OneHealthcare (A1Health) has announced a groundbreaking partnership with MediExpress (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, marking the first collaboration of its kind between a hospital group and the managed healthcare network. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both parties aims to streamline patient access and improve administrative processes across A1Health hospitals.

Under the partnership, MediExpress will serve as a managed care partner across A1Health’s hospital network, with a shared focus on improving access to private healthcare, enhancing care coordination, and supporting the long-term sustainability of healthcare financing.

The significance of this partnership lies in its potential to transform patient experiences by making healthcare more accessible and affordable. By addressing key challenges in the healthcare system, A1Health and MediExpress are poised to set a new standard for hospital networks in the region.

The partnership brings together A1Health’s nationwide network of 21 hospitals, including 12 Columbia Asia Hospitals, Subang Jaya Medical Centre, Ara Damansara Medical Centre, ParkCity Medical Centre and Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre, as well as five super-specialty hospitals – ALTY Orthopaedic Hospital, Beacon Hospital, Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur (CVSKL), PICASO Hospital and Northern Heart Hospital Penang.

Beyond hospital-based treatment, the collaboration places a strong emphasis on preventive healthcare and long-term health management. As part of the partnership, MediExpress members will have access to Asia 1Health’s  Health Transformation Programme through selected hospitals within its network.