The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has called on retailers to enhance their sustainable seafood offerings, following a YouGov survey revealing that a significant majority of consumers in Malaysia and Singapore prioritise sustainability in their seafood choices. The survey, conducted from 15 to 19 January 2026, highlighted that 85% of Malaysians and 74% of Singaporeans consider sustainable seafood important, yet many struggle to identify such products due to inadequate labelling.

As Chinese New Year approaches, seafood consumption is expected to surge, making it a crucial time for sustainable shopping. Despite this, 58% of Singaporeans have never noticed an ecolabel when purchasing seafood, and only 21% recognise the MSC blue ecolabel. This lack of awareness poses a challenge for consumers eager to make informed choices.

In Malaysia, where seafood consumption is more than double the global average, 75% of respondents believe that local fishermen need support to fish sustainably. Meanwhile, in Singapore, where most seafood is imported, 55% of consumers rely on government standards and 54% on origin information to ensure sustainability.

Anne Gabriel, Programme Director for Oceania and Singapore at MSC, stated, “It’s clear that consumers are ready and willing to seek out credible certification, so we’re urging retailers and businesses to make MSC ecolabel products visible and accessible.”

The survey also found that 52% of Singaporeans think supermarkets should commit to sourcing sustainable seafood, and 38% are willing to pay more for it, even amidst cost-of-living pressures. As festive demand peaks, clearer ecolabelling could help consumers align their values with their purchases without altering traditional meals. MSC-certified products are available at various supermarkets in Singapore and Malaysia, including Cold Storage, FairPrice Group, and AEON Retail.

Medisana, a global leader in home health and wellness solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with DKSH Business Unit Healthcare to expand its medical device distribution in Malaysia and Brunei. This collaboration, revealed on 11 February 2026, aims to make home healthcare monitoring solutions more accessible to individuals and communities in these regions.

DKSH will provide comprehensive market expansion services, including sales, merchandising, distribution, and logistics, across retail and institutional pharmacy channels. The partnership will focus on key medical device categories such as blood pressure monitors, thermometers, inhalers, TENS machines, pulse oximeters, and blood glucose metres and strips.

Michael Gao Feng, Managing Director at Medisana, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “Our mission has always been to empower people to better manage their health at home. Partnering with DKSH enables us to strengthen our presence in Malaysia and Brunei whilst ensuring that our trusted home healthcare solutions are accessible through more pharmacy touchpoints.”

Sandeep Tewari, Vice President Healthcare and Head Country Leadership Malaysia at DKSH, added, “We are proud to welcome Medisana to DKSH’s healthcare portfolio. By combining Medisana’s trusted medical device solutions with DKSH’s extensive commercial reach and execution excellence, we aim to expand access to high-quality home healthcare monitoring devices.”

This partnership underscores Medisana’s commitment to innovation and accessibility in healthcare technology. As demand for home health monitoring rises, Medisana plans to leverage this collaboration to deepen its presence in Southeast Asia, providing greater support to healthcare professionals and consumers.

Oiltek International Limited, a Singapore Exchange Mainboard-listed company, reported a 7.9% increase in net profit for the financial year ending 31 December 2025, reaching RM32m. This growth comes despite foreign exchange losses of RM8.2m, contrasting with the previous year’s RM2.6m gains. Excluding these losses, the company’s net profit would have surged by 48.7% to RM40.2m.

The company, known for its integrated process technology and renewable energy solutions, has proposed a final dividend of 0.7 Singapore cents per share. Combined with the interim dividend paid in September 2025, this brings the total declared dividend for the year to 1.2 Singapore cents per share, representing 52.5% of the group’s net profit.

Oiltek’s order book remains robust at RM312.8m, and its financial health is underscored by zero debt and cash reserves of RM99.7m, nearly matching its net assets. CEO Henry Yong Khai Weng highlighted the company’s resilience amid challenging global conditions, noting its successful transfer to the SGX Mainboard as a significant milestone. He stated, “With our resilient business model, strong engineering capabilities, proprietary patented technology, and continuous innovation, we are primed for our next phase of growth.”

Looking forward, Oiltek plans to explore joint ventures aligned with its strategic goals to ensure sustainable long-term value for shareholders. This strategic direction aims to leverage its strong foundation for future expansion and innovation.

TechStore Berhad, an enterprise IT services provider, has been awarded a RM54.8m contract by Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) to upgrade the record system of the Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara in Putrajaya. The contract was accepted by TechStore’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Tech-Store Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

The contract signifies a major step for TechStore in enhancing national IT infrastructure. The company, known for its expertise in IT security and automation solutions, will focus on seamless analogue-to-digital transformations to improve efficiency and security without requiring complete system overhauls.

TechStore Berhad, listed under stock code TECHSTORE/0343, has a history of delivering significant projects, including telecommunications systems for the MRT Kajang line and Automatic Fare Collection and Electronic Access Control systems for LRT3. The company also implemented an integrated bus system in Penang, showcasing its capability in providing tailored solutions across various industries such as transportation, utilities, and logistics.

Eugene Tan, Managing Director of TechStore, emphasised the company’s commitment to driving innovation and operational excellence. This new contract with KDN is expected to further solidify TechStore’s position as a leader in the IT services sector.

Luxury hospitality veteran Etienne Dalançon has been appointed as the General Manager of the forthcoming Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur, Hilton announced. The hotel, marking the debut of the Waldorf Astoria brand in Malaysia, is set to open in late 2026 in Kuala Lumpur’s vibrant Golden Triangle, Bukit Bintang.

Dalançon brings over two decades of experience in luxury hospitality, having previously served as General Manager of Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi. Under his leadership, the resort received accolades from Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveller, and the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating. His career spans senior leadership roles across Asia and Europe, where he is recognised for his strategic vision and commitment to service excellence.

The Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur will feature 268 suites, seven unique dining and cocktail venues, a world-class wellness centre, and extensive meeting and event spaces. These facilities are designed to embody the brand’s signature blend of timeless elegance and personalised luxury.

“I am honoured to lead the launch of Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur and bring the brand’s sincerely elegant service to this dynamic city,” Dalançon stated. “Together with the team, we look forward to creating memorable guest experiences that reflect both Waldorf Astoria’s heritage and the vibrant spirit of Kuala Lumpur.”

The appointment of Dalançon is a significant step as Hilton prepares to introduce the iconic Waldorf Astoria brand to Malaysia, promising a new level of luxury hospitality in the region.

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.