A recent survey by Sun Life Asia has revealed that financial security is the top priority for legacy planning among families in the region, yet 60% worry their wealth may not extend beyond their children’s generation. The study, titled *Passing the torch: Building lasting legacies in Asia*, surveyed over 3,000 individuals across Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The findings highlight the importance of structured planning and financial literacy as Asia undergoes a significant intergenerational wealth transfer. Seven in 10 respondents emphasised the need for protection to ensure their family’s financial security, whilst 59% expressed a desire for their wealth to be invested in long-term growth through financial assets, life insurance, or family businesses.

Concerns about wealth preservation are prevalent, with 55% of respondents doubting their heirs’ financial readiness to manage inherited assets. Only 31% are confident their children will uphold their wishes regarding wealth transfer and asset growth. The affluent are particularly worried, with 28% describing themselves as “very concerned” about the longevity of their wealth.

David Broom, Chief Client & Distribution Officer at Sun Life, noted, “We are seeing a clear shift in how families define legacy – from wealth alone to a combination of financial security, education and purposeful living for future generations.” This shift underscores the need for open family discussions about money and the importance of financial education to ensure lasting legacies.

Allianz Malaysia Berhad has officially opened its new Penang branch in Georgetown, marking a strategic relocation from its former site on China Street. Situated on Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, the branch is housed in a heritage building, blending cultural significance with modern amenities. The facility spans 9,000 square feet and includes three training rooms, aiming to improve customer service for over 800,000 clients in the northern region.

The launch was attended by Allianz Malaysia CEO Sean Wang and Allianz Life Insurance Malaysia Berhad CEO Charles Ong. Wang stated, “This new branch represents our commitment to growth and accessibility in the northern region.” He emphasised the importance of investing in the heritage building to honour Penang’s cultural history whilst enhancing service accessibility.

The new location offers improved customer experience with ample parking, more service counters, and private consultation areas. This expansion aligns with Allianz Malaysia’s Beyond Central Expansion initiative, aiming to meet the growing needs of the local community.

The Georgetown branch complements Allianz Malaysia’s existing facility in Bukit Mertajam, strengthening its presence in Penang. This move is part of a broader network of 30 branches across Malaysia, established since 2002. The new branch underscores Allianz Malaysia’s dedication to expanding its footprint and enhancing service delivery in key regions.

A recent survey by Sun Life Asia reveals that financial security is the primary concern for legacy planning among Asian families, yet 60% worry their wealth will not endure beyond their children’s generation. The study, titled “Passing the torch: Building lasting legacies in Asia,” surveyed over 3,000 respondents across Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, highlighting the urgent need for structured legacy planning and financial literacy.

The survey found that seven in 10 respondents prioritise ensuring their family’s financial security as the most crucial aspect of legacy planning. Additionally, 59% wish for their wealth to be invested in long-term growth, whilst 60% express concerns about their wealth’s longevity beyond the next generation. Only 19% of respondents feel fully prepared with their legacy arrangements.

David Broom, Chief Client & Distribution Officer at Sun Life, noted, “We are seeing a clear shift in how families define legacy – from wealth alone to a combination of financial security, education and purposeful living for future generations.”

The survey also highlights that less than a third of respondents believe their children will uphold family traditions, and only 31% are confident their heirs will manage inherited assets effectively. This underscores the importance of financial literacy and open family discussions about wealth.

Despite growing awareness, many families remain unprepared, with only 10% having completed and communicated their legacy plans. The survey indicates a growing demand for professional guidance, particularly among affluent individuals and Gen Z, with 58% and 47% respectively seeking expert advice.

Broom added, “Families are talking but not planning. Whilst more people recognise the need for open conversations about wealth and inheritance, many of these discussions still lack structure and follow through.”

FETC International, a leader in Intelligent Transportation Systems, is set to showcase its advanced Smart Mobility and Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) technologies at the My ASEAN Roads & Traffic Tech Expo (MyARTTE) 2025. The event will take place from 3–5 November at MITEC Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, bringing together industry leaders to discuss the future of mobility in the ASEAN region.

The company will be located at Booth #2007, where it will highlight its latest innovations in Smart City Solutions and Next-Generation MLFF Highway Systems. These innovations are based on a successful Proof of Concept (POC) conducted on the Maju Expressway (E20) in Malaysia, in partnership with KJS-SEP. The POC, implemented on 12 August 2024 and dismantled on 22 August 2025, achieved remarkable results, including a 100% vehicle detection rate, 100% ANPR accuracy rate, 100% billed accuracy rate, and a 99.97% RFID identification rate.

These results underscore FETC International’s capability to support Malaysia’s shift towards efficient and sustainable tolling infrastructure. Richard Wu, Vice President of FETC International, will participate in a roundtable discussion titled “The Future of Seamless Mobility Payments” on 4 November, from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, further emphasising the company’s commitment to advancing mobility solutions.

The expo serves as a platform for government agencies, infrastructure operators, and technology leaders to explore advancements shaping the future of mobility, with FETC International at the forefront of these discussions.

Malaysia, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF), has announced the launch of the ASEAN AI Safety Network at the Powering the Intelligent Age Summit in Kuala Lumpur. This initiative, part of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, seeks to advance safe and inclusive artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across the region, aligning with sustainability and trust.

The summit, hosted by the Malaysia Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (MYCentre4IR), drew over 400 delegates from 14 countries, including policymakers, corporate leaders, and researchers. It highlighted Malaysia’s role as a convener of regional dialogue on technology governance and innovation, with a focus on digital transformation and energy transition.

A key feature of the summit was the unveiling of the Sustainable AI White Paper, developed in partnership with MYCentre4IR and ERM, with input from Microsoft. This document aims to guide responsible and energy-efficient AI deployment in ASEAN.

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo emphasised Malaysia’s ambition to become an AI Nation by 2030, supported by trusted governance and inclusive talent development. “The ASEAN AI Safe marks an important step forward,” he stated, underscoring the importance of collaboration in ensuring technology benefits all communities.

Cathy Li from the WEF highlighted the region’s potential to shape global AI standards, stressing the need for a shared governance framework that fosters trust and sustainability. The summit also featured discussions on industrial transformation, focusing on data platforms, automation, and clean energy integration.

The event underscored the convergence of AI and industrial sustainability as drivers of ASEAN’s future competitiveness, with Malaysia committed to aligning its digital ambitions with regional sustainability and inclusivity themes.

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.