Alpro Health, a subsidiary of Alpro Group, has launched the Happier Project, an innovative initiative designed to make mental wellbeing measurable and actionable using artificial intelligence (AI). This pioneering project, unveiled on 27 October, aims to empower organisations to assess and enhance their employees’ mental health, with a long-term goal of extending its reach to all Malaysians.

The initiative comes in response to alarming statistics from the 2024 Wellness at Work Report by Employment Hero, which revealed that 67% of Malaysian employees feel burnt out, a 17% increase since 2022. Additionally, a national study by Chua in 2020 found that one in five employees exhibits symptoms of anxiety and depression, contributing to significant economic losses.

Central to the Happier Project is the use of NeuroAI, an advanced AI technology that performs a contactless 90-second facial scan to measure Heart Rate Variability (HRV). This technology detects early signs of stress and burnout with up to 99% accuracy, offering a private and stigma-free method for mental health screening.

Pharmacist Sean Liew, Director of Alpro Health, stated, “Our vision is to make mental wellbeing as measurable as blood pressure and as routine as a health check-up.” The project also features the HappiDex, a proprietary wellbeing index that quantifies organisational mental health into a single score, helping companies track progress and design targeted wellness strategies.

The Happier Project aims to reach over 40,000 employees across 150 Malaysian companies by 2026, marking one of the largest privately led mental wellbeing initiatives in the country. Alpro Health invites organisations to participate and join the movement towards creating psychologically safe and productive workplaces.

Collinson International and Sompo have announced the expansion of their strategic partnership to launch Sompo Smart Delay in Singapore, mainland China, and Malaysia. This initiative allows policyholders of selected Sompo travel insurance plans to access over 1,800 airport lounges and travel experiences during flight delays, enhancing the travel experience by transforming disruptions into more comfortable situations.

Eligible policyholders must register their flights at least two hours in advance in Singapore, or three hours in Malaysia and mainland China, to benefit from the service. In the event of a delay, they receive a digital access voucher for immediate use, granting access to airport lounges or alternative experiences such as spa sessions or restaurant discounts, without needing to file a claim.

The expansion comes amid rising flight disruptions, with 54 million travellers in the Asia Pacific (APAC) affected by delays over one hour in the first half of 2025. According to Collinson International’s report, “Tomorrow’s Journey: Smarter, Faster, Connected,” 80% of APAC travellers have visited a lounge at least once, highlighting the importance of premium services in airports.

Todd Handcock, Chief Commercial Officer at Collinson International, stated, “As lounge access and premium services become increasingly important to travellers, particularly in the event of a flight delay, this expansion underscores our shared commitment to elevating the travel experience across APAC.”

Bill Zhang, President of Consumer Lines at Sompo, added, “Leveraging Collinson International’s extensive portfolio of airport lounges and travel network, this new feature will enhance the travel experience and reinforce our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our customers.”

Alltronics Holdings Limited, a prominent manufacturer of electronic products, has expanded its production capacity by acquiring a factory in Penang, Malaysia. This acquisition marks the company’s first production facility outside China, a strategic move to diversify its manufacturing footprint across Asia. The acquisition was completed in August, with Winner Sky Technology Hong Kong Limited and its Malaysian subsidiary becoming wholly-owned subsidiaries of Alltronics.

The Penang factory, previously a subcontractor for Alltronics, focuses on manufacturing, assembling, and selling electronic products and components. In a bid to further enhance its production capabilities, Alltronics plans to establish a second factory in Malaysia by early next year. This new facility will feature 12 assembly lines, significantly increasing the company’s workforce and production capacity in the region.

Lam Yin Kee, Chairman and Executive Director of Alltronics, stated, “Establishing our first production facility outside China in Malaysia is a pivotal milestone in realising our strategic vision. This foundation enables us to serve our customers more effectively and create greater long-term value for our shareholders.”

Chief Executive and Executive Director, Lam Chee Tai Eric, added, “We are focused on seamlessly integrating this new facility into our operations and optimising its management efficiency. It signifies the beginning of a new chapter of development for Alltronics.”

Alltronics’ expansion into Malaysia is part of a broader strategy to enhance operational resilience and agility, positioning the company to better meet evolving customer demands and explore further opportunities in other Asian markets.

The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) recently hosted senior officials from the Royal Oman Police (ROP) for a four-day visit, aimed at enhancing government-to-government cooperation in healthcare. From 21 to 24 October, the delegation, led by Brigadier Dr Naseer Al-Manthery, Director General of Medical Services for Security Services, toured leading Malaysian hospitals and patient facilitation centres to assess clinical capabilities and care coordination systems.

This visit marks a significant step in the ongoing partnership between MHTC and ROP, which began in January 2025. The collaboration seeks to address the medical needs of Omani security personnel and their families through structured healthcare initiatives. The familiarisation programme allowed ROP leadership to directly evaluate Malaysian healthcare infrastructure and international patient services.

The delegation visited several key medical facilities, including KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital 2, Prince Court Medical Centre, PERKESO Rehabilitation Centre Tun Abdul Razak in Melaka, and Sunway Medical Centre. These visits facilitated discussions with hospital leadership on referral pathways, international patient services, and potential collaborations in clinical training and fellowship opportunities.

Suriaghandi Suppiah, MHTC’s Chief Executive Officer, emphasised the importance of such engagements, stating, “This programme represents the next phase of our partnership, providing ROP leadership with direct assessment of Malaysian healthcare infrastructure and international patient services.” The visit underscores the commitment of both parties to strengthen healthcare ties and explore further collaborative opportunities.

Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur (PHKL) and Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur have once again joined forces to support children with congenital heart disease through their annual charity initiative, “Embracing the Gift of Life, Healing Little Hearts Together.” This marks the second year of collaboration between the two institutions, aiming to provide life-saving cardiac care to children in need.

The event, held at PHKL’s auditorium, was led by Erica Lam, CEO of Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, and Daniel Kaeflein, General Manager of Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur, alongside corporate partners, medical professionals, and media representatives. “When we began this journey, our goal was simple, which is to make life-saving cardiac care accessible to children born with congenital heart disease,” said Lam.

Since the partnership began in May 2024, 10 children have benefited from life-saving surgeries. In 2025 alone, seven children have received support. Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur’s fundraising efforts have raised $69,000 (RM329,035.90), fully funding eight surgeries between January and September 2025. These surgeries, often not covered by insurance, are made possible through PHKL’s paediatric cardiac surgical packages.

“This initiative goes beyond fundraising; it is about giving children the future they deserve,” said Kaeflein. The collaboration, sparked by the arrival of Dr Siti Laura Mazlan, a paediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, continues to make a significant impact on the lives of children and their families.

Sunway Malls has announced a new sustainability campaign, “From This to That,” coinciding with United Nations Day. The initiative, running from 22 October to 9 November 2025, will feature eco-friendly workshops at Sunway Velocity Mall, Sunway Pyramid, Sunway Big Box, and Sunway Kluang Mall. The campaign aims to promote recycling, reusing, and reimagining to raise awareness of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The mall group is also investing in Food Digester machines, which convert food waste into environmentally friendly greywater, and has received international SIRIM certifications, including ISO 14001 for Environmental Management. Sunway Pyramid has become the first mall in Malaysia to achieve the prestigious SIRIM 55 certification, setting a new standard for sustainability in the retail industry.

HC Chan, CEO of Sunway Malls, stated, “ESG is a crucial part of our business today. Our commitment to ESG is a bond of trust with our employees, customers, and community. This is how we ensure inclusive, ethical, and sustainable growth for all stakeholders.”

Sunway Malls is further enhancing its sustainability efforts with initiatives such as Smart Toilet Systems, Smart Parking Systems, and collaborations with partners like Kloth Cares for textile recycling. These efforts aim to reduce carbon emissions and promote a culture of reuse and recycling among tenants and visitors.

The “From This to That” campaign also includes partnerships with eco-friendly retailers like Uniqlo, The Body Shop, and Timberland, demonstrating the potential of collaboration in achieving a sustainable lifestyle.

Allianz Malaysia Berhad, through its corporate social responsibility arm Allianz4Good, has launched the P-hailing Bikers Safety & Emergency Survival Programme aimed at enhancing the safety of riders from foodpanda and Lalamove. Conducted by the Road Safety Marshal Club, the training took place at MISAR Academy, Kampung Pandan, on 17 July and 23 August 2025.

The four-hour training session focused on improving riders’ emergency response skills and promoting safer riding behaviours. Participants learnt about personal bike inspection, helmet and PPE selection, visibility awareness, and defensive riding techniques. The programme also covered accident recovery, bike lifting, and emergency first aid.

This initiative reflects Allianz Malaysia’s commitment to rider safety, as highlighted at the Allianz Malaysia Media Forum 2025. Ng Siew Gek, Head of Allianz4Good, stated, “Riders are on the road all day; their exposure to road accident risk is real. This Programme provides riders with practical skills to prevent crashes and to respond in the first critical minutes during emergencies.”

Shubham Saran, Director of Operations at foodpanda Malaysia, emphasised the importance of such programmes, saying they provide meaningful support beyond daily operations. Jane Teh, Managing Director of Lalamove Malaysia, added that the collaboration equips riders with vital skills for safer road navigation.

By partnering with leading p-hailing platforms, Allianz Malaysia aims to foster safer deliveries and communities, ensuring riders are better prepared for the challenges they face on the road.

Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC), PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Telin), and ITCO Niaga Sdn Bhd have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop the Indonesia Cable Express II (ICE II) subsea cable system. The agreement was formalised during the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2025, held on 22 October at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.

The ICE II system is designed to be a high-capacity fibre-optic submarine cable network, connecting Singapore to Manado, with further links to North Asia and the United States. This infrastructure will include branching points to strategic locations such as Batam, Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, and Borneo Island, enhancing connectivity for regional data centres (DCs) and providing an alternative route to the congested South China Sea corridor.

The collaboration aims to meet the increasing demand for high-speed transmission capacity and support the region’s growing needs for artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and other digital technologies. Dato Ir Ts Sudarnoto Osman, CEO of SDEC, stated, “This collaboration is part of SDEC’s effort to enhance Sarawak’s international connectivity that will catalyse investment of AI and Green Data Centre.”

Budi Satria Dharma Purba, CEO of Telin, highlighted the significance of the partnership, noting that it represents “a pivotal milestone in our journey towards a more interconnected and digitally empowered region.” The ICE II system is expected to drive innovation and digital services growth, positioning Southeast Asia as a key player in the global digital economy.

Malaysian property developer Gamuda Land has announced its acquisition of a prime site on Marshgate Lane, Stratford, for its inaugural self-developed student housing project in the UK. This 321-bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) will be the closest private facility to University College London (UCL) East, signifying Gamuda Land’s transition from joint ventures to full-cycle project delivery in the UK.

The development, strategically located near UCL East and the London College of Fashion, is set to be completed by the 2028/29 academic year. It aims to address London’s significant shortfall of over 100,000 student beds, amidst a growing demand for quality accommodation. The project is part of Gamuda Land’s rapidly expanding UK PBSA portfolio, which now includes 1,232 beds across London and Glasgow.

In just 18 months, Gamuda Land has established a strong presence in the UK, with projects such as Press House in Woolwich and City Wharf in Glasgow. “This step towards self-sufficiency is a natural evolution for us,” said Niall Farmer, Head of Gamuda Land United Kingdom. “Marshgate demonstrates our ability to manage the full lifecycle in the UK.”

The company remains committed to ESG principles, aligning its developments with best practices. Its £1.2b redevelopment of 75 London Wall is targeting BREEAM, WELL, and NABERS certifications. Gamuda Land continues to seek growth through disciplined acquisitions and strategic partnerships, aiming to collaborate with institutional investors who share its sustainable outlook.

Steel Hawk Engineering, a subsidiary of Steel Hawk, has been awarded eight contracts by Sega Elektrik for the installation, testing, and commissioning of electrical systems for Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s asset development. The contracts, valued at RM61m, were announced on 23 October 2025.

The contracts involve work on 415V and below systems, including underground cables, overhead systems, and related accessories. The project is set to run from 23 October 2025 to 22 October 2026, with an option for a one-year extension. This development is expected to positively impact Steel Hawk’s earnings for the financial year ending 31 December 2025.

The Board of Directors of Steel Hawk stated that the contracts align with the company’s ordinary business operations and are in its best interest. They also confirmed that the contracts would not affect the company’s share capital or shareholding structure. Furthermore, no directors or major shareholders have any interest in these contracts.

Steel Hawk’s involvement in similar services ensures that the company is well-prepared to manage any associated risks. The contracts do not require approval from shareholders or regulatory authorities, streamlining the process for Steel Hawk to commence work promptly.