Transport Ministers Jeffrey Siow of Singapore and Anthony Loke of Malaysia have announced key enhancements to cross-border taxi and bus services following their meeting on 4 December 2025. The discussions took place during the 12th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat, focusing on strengthening transport links between the two countries.

The ministers highlighted ongoing discussions between officials from both sides, aiming to improve the efficiency and reciprocity of cross-border transport services. These enhancements are expected to facilitate smoother travel for commuters and boost connectivity between Singapore and Malaysia.

The joint statement from the Ministry of Transport, Singapore, and the Ministry of Transport, Malaysia, underscores the commitment of both nations to enhance bilateral cooperation in transport. By improving cross-border taxi services and ensuring reciprocal bus services, the two countries aim to address the growing demand for efficient and reliable transport options.

These developments are part of broader efforts to strengthen ties and improve infrastructure between Singapore and Malaysia. The enhancements to the transport services are anticipated to have a positive impact on trade, tourism, and daily commuting for residents of both countries.

As the discussions progress, further details on the implementation of these enhancements are expected to be released, marking a significant step forward in regional cooperation and connectivity.

Tourism Malaysia has appointed VFS Global as its Marketing Representative agency in Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, aiming to strengthen its presence in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. This strategic partnership, announced on 5 December 2025, is a significant move to enhance Malaysia’s visibility and engagement in these high-potential markets, with the goal of increasing tourist arrivals.

The GCC countries are crucial for Malaysia’s tourism sector, with visitor numbers from the West Asian region rising from 175,196 in 2023 to 211,701 in 2024—a 20.8% increase. These markets are among the top five in tourist spending per capita and have a longer average stay, making them vital to Malaysia’s tourism growth strategy. The collaboration with VFS Global is part of the preparations for “Visit Malaysia Year 2026,” themed “Surreal Experiences,” which aims to attract significant contributions from GCC visitors.

VFS Global will manage marketing, promotional, and brand-building initiatives through dedicated offices, supporting comprehensive campaigns and travel trade engagements. The agency will also assist the Malaysian Embassy in tourism-related initiatives, ensuring a cohesive promotional approach.

Mohd Faharuddin Hatmin, Director of Tourism Malaysia Dubai, emphasised the importance of the West Asia market, stating, “By partnering with VFS Global, we aim to strengthen our outreach and deliver impactful campaigns that showcase Malaysia’s diverse attractions.” GB Srithar, Head of Tourism Services at VFS Global, expressed excitement about the partnership, highlighting its potential to drive strong visitor numbers to Malaysia.

Looking forward to Visit Malaysia 2026, Tourism Malaysia aims to attract 50 million international visitors, showcasing the country’s cultural heritage, natural beauty, and sustainable tourism offerings.

Agilent Technologies Inc. and Monash University Malaysia have announced the establishment of a new BioDiscovery Hub to commemorate their 15-year partnership. The hub, located in Kuala Lumpur, is designed to accelerate research and development (R&D) in both small- and large-molecule analysis, focusing on building high-impact capabilities in Asia’s rapidly growing markets.

The collaboration between Agilent and Monash University aims to drive regional biotech innovation by providing advanced facilities and resources for cutting-edge research. The BioDiscovery Hub will serve as a centre for scientific exploration, enabling researchers to develop new technologies and methodologies in the field of biotechnology. This initiative is expected to bolster the region’s position in the global biotech landscape.

Agilent, a leader in life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets, has been working closely with Monash University to foster an environment conducive to scientific breakthroughs. The partnership has been instrumental in advancing R&D efforts, particularly in the analysis of complex biological molecules. “This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence in the biotech sector,” said Agilent’s spokesperson.

The BioDiscovery Hub is anticipated to attract top-tier researchers and industry experts, facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration. By leveraging the strengths of both Agilent and Monash University, the hub is poised to make significant contributions to the biotech industry, addressing critical challenges and unlocking new opportunities for growth.

As the hub begins operations, it is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of biotechnology in Asia, fostering innovation and driving economic development in the region.

FastLane Group has announced a significant advancement in Malaysia’s financial digitalisation through a new partnership with RHB Bank and Xero. This collaboration introduces a fully digital, API-enabled bank feed, allowing businesses to connect their RHB Reflex Premium Plus accounts directly to Xero. This integration enables automatic daily imports across current, multi-currency, credit card, and loan accounts, eliminating the need for manual uploads and reducing reconciliation delays. As a result, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) gain real-time clarity of their financial position.

“This closes the gap between banking and accounting,” said Alex So, Founder of FastLane Group and a Xero Platinum Champion Partner. “Business owners can wake up to absolute clarity—a real-time, accurate view of their cash. No spreadsheets, no delays, no guesswork.”

The partnership signifies a broader shift in Malaysia’s business landscape towards full automation and compliance, aligning with new initiatives like the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia’s (IRBM) e-invoicing mandate. Beyond automation, Alex So emphasises that the integration represents a shift in mindset. “Technology itself is not the goal. The real goal is to enable better decisions,” he explained. “When financial data flows in real time, business owners stop reacting and start planning.”

FastLane’s role extends beyond connecting accounts, offering guided onboarding, data migration, and e-invoicing configuration to ensure businesses fully utilise the technology. “We’ve helped thousands of SMEs move from traditional bookkeeping to intelligent finance,” So noted. “The transformation happens when numbers start speaking—when owners can make confident calls based on up-to-date data instead of waiting for month-end reports.”

This collaboration marks a new era of connectivity in business finance, where banking, accounting, and compliance operate within a single intelligent ecosystem. “This partnership empowers businesses to grow with clarity and confidence,” So concluded. “With automation at the core, finance becomes intelligent, accurate, and fully compliant. It is not just the evolution of accounting but the foundation of smarter, data-driven business.”

Malaysia has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability at the COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil, by hosting a dynamic Pavilion that served as a hub for knowledge exchange. Over a 10-day programme from 10 to 21 November, the Pavilion attracted over 1,100 participants and more than 5,000 visitors, highlighting Malaysia’s leadership in climate action.

The Pavilion focused on five thematic pillars: Restoring Rainforests, Rivers, and Reefs; Energy Transition Pathways for Developing Nations; Climate Justice in the Global South; Future-Proofing Water, Food Systems, and Industry; and Unlocking Finance for Net Zero. These discussions underscored Malaysia’s holistic approach to sustainability, bridging policy, innovation, and community action.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Huang Tiong Sii, emphasised Malaysia’s dedication to climate action, stating, “This year’s Pavilion themed ‘Climate Action Now: Net Zero Pathways Unlocked’ truly represents Malaysia’s evolution from ambition to implementation.”

The Pavilion also spotlighted intergenerational leadership through a youth panel, emphasising the role of young leaders in shaping climate governance. The session concluded with breakout groups, fostering inclusive engagement in climate outcomes.

COP30 itself advanced several global climate initiatives, including a new climate finance work programme and the Belém Gender Action Plan. However, challenges remain, particularly in reaching binding agreements on fossil fuel phaseouts and deforestation commitments.

As COP30 concludes, Malaysia looks forward to COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, continuing its commitment to unlocking pathways to net zero and inspiring global action through leadership and innovation.

EPG, a Singapore-based provider of modular data centre solutions, has achieved a significant milestone by securing BOMBA certification from Malaysia’s Fire and Rescue Department. This approval positions EPG as one of the first modular data centre manufacturers to meet Malaysia’s stringent fire safety requirements, facilitating seamless deployment across Southeast Asia.

The BOMBA certification, a mandatory compliance step for data centre equipment in Malaysia, involves rigorous testing and audits. EPG’s modular systems successfully passed evaluations, demonstrating strong fire safety performance and structural integrity, aligning with both Malaysian and international standards. An EPG spokesperson noted, “BOMBA certification serves as a gateway into Malaysia and a trusted signal for customers across ASEAN.”

This certification comes as EPG expands its Johor Bahru manufacturing hub, which is set to include a new 80 million facility by Q3 2026. The facility will offer 40,000 m² of workshop space, employ over 800 specialists, and produce more than 2,000 modular units annually, supporting up to 550 MW of project capacity.

With BOMBA approval, EPG can accelerate the delivery of compliant systems to markets such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, where demand for modular capacity is rising due to AI and cloud expansion. This achievement is part of EPG’s broader global compliance strategy, as the company seeks to expand certification initiatives to other regulated markets worldwide.

CSM Academy International, a prominent private education institution in healthcare, is set to open a new branch in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, in February 2026. This expansion aims to address the growing need for skilled healthcare professionals in the region by offering a range of short courses initially, followed by comprehensive diploma programmes later in the year.

The Johor Bahru branch will initially provide short courses such as the Clinic Assistant Series, Phlebotomy, and Caregivers courses, which have been successful in Singapore. These courses are designed to equip learners with practical skills that are immediately applicable in the healthcare industry. As the branch develops, it will introduce CSM Academy’s full suite of programmes, including core healthcare qualifications and courses in Tourism and Hospitality.

By late 2026, the branch plans to launch diploma programmes in Healthcare Management and Individual Support (Aging & Disability). These qualifications aim to prepare students to meet the needs of the global ageing population. Lynn Chow, CEO of CSM Academy International, stated, “Expanding into Johor Bahru allows us to extend our commitment to quality healthcare education beyond Singapore.”

The establishment of CSM Academy Malaysia highlights the institution’s dedication to fostering capable healthcare workers across Southeast Asia. Founded in 2005, CSM Academy is known for its high standards in healthcare education and is accredited by SkillsFuture Singapore and EduTrust.

S&P Global Ratings has assessed the national insolvency regimes of Malaysia and the Philippines, assigning them jurisdiction rankings of Group B and Group C, respectively. This assessment, announced on 3 December 2025, evaluates the degree of protection afforded to creditors under each country’s insolvency laws and the predictability of related proceedings. Despite these rankings, there is no impact on existing credit ratings.

Malaysia’s Group B ranking reflects a satisfactory legal framework for creditors, with a medium level of creditor-friendliness and an intermediate rule-of-law risk. Recent legislative enhancements, such as the Companies (Amendment) Act 2024 and the adoption of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency, are expected to improve the predictability of legal proceedings for both domestic and foreign creditors. However, the country still faces challenges due to limited empirical evidence on recovery realisation through insolvency proceedings.

In contrast, the Philippines received a Group C ranking, indicating a weaker legal framework for creditors. The country’s creditor-friendliness is considered weak, with high rule-of-law risk. The Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act of 2010 governs insolvency law, but there is insufficient empirical evidence on its implementation and enforceability. Additionally, the preservation of asset value is low, with few precedents of creditors receiving recovery rates above 30%. Despite these challenges, the Philippines’ legal framework supports the reorganisation of entities as going concerns, and the adoption of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency offers some mitigation.

These jurisdiction rankings provide insight into the potential recovery prospects for creditors involved in insolvency proceedings in Malaysia and the Philippines.

Maharani Freeport, Malaysia’s first duty-exempted energy freeport, was officially launched by Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia. Developed by Maharani Energy Gateway Sdn. Bhd. (MEG), this deepwater freeport is a private-sector initiative supported by the Federal and Johor State Governments. It is strategically located within the Muar Port limits along the Strait of Malacca, the world’s largest oil shipping route.

The freeport is expected to attract RM144b in global investments, significantly boosting the local and national economy. Dato’ Dr. Daing A. Malek Bin Daing A. Rahaman, Executive Chairman of MEG, described the project as “bold and transformative,” aiming to create at least 45,000 direct and indirect jobs and uplift local businesses in logistics, ship repair, and services.

Maharani Freeport is already operational, engaging in oil trading, storage, and other maritime services. The launch event was attended by over 1,500 guests, including the Regent of Johor, Prime Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim, and international dignitaries.

The development spans 3,200 acres across three man-made islands, featuring an energy hub, deep seaport, industrial park, and financial hub. It offers a comprehensive service ecosystem with competitive tax incentives, including a 3% corporate tax rate for oil trade activities.

Fingular, a Singapore-based global fintech holding, has announced that its Malaysian brand, Tambadana, has surpassed US$150m in total consumer financing. Since its inception, Tambadana has processed approximately 600,000 cases, marking a significant achievement in Fingular’s regional expansion strategy.

Tambadana’s rapid growth underscores Malaysia’s increasing demand for digital financial services. The brand has consistently shown double-digit monthly growth, driven by rising consumer confidence in fintech solutions and the swift adoption of online financial services. According to the McKinsey Southeast Asia Economic Review, digital financial adoption in the region is set to grow rapidly, supported by mobile connectivity, young demographics, and growing trust in digital ecosystems.

Maxim Chernushchenko, CEO of Fingular, remarked, “Crossing the US$150 million mark is a sign of how fast Malaysia is embracing digital finance. We see strong demand for transparent, accessible, and fast financing options, and we’re committed to expanding our ecosystem to meet these needs through innovation and responsible fintech practices.”

Tambadana’s success is attributed to Fingular’s proprietary technology and a local-first approach, allowing the company to tailor its products to meet cultural and regulatory requirements. This milestone reinforces Fingular’s commitment to promoting financial inclusion and innovation across Asia and the Middle East.

Founded in 2021 by Maxim Chernushchenko and Cypriot investor Vadim Gurinov, Fingular aims to establish a full-service neo-bank that enhances financial inclusion whilst ensuring a seamless digital finance experience.