13/03/2025

BIZ & FINANCE THURSDAY | MAR 13, 2025

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Manufacturing sector sales reach RM158.1b in January

CelcomDigi and PayNet promote more secure digital financial services

PETALING JAYA: CelcomDigi Bhd and Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet) have partnered up to provide Malaysians with a more secure and seamless access to digital financial services using the telco’s Open Gateway. By leveraging Open Application Pro gramming Interface (OpenAPI) integration, this collaboration supports Malaysia’s push for greater digital security, empowering individuals and businesses with safe and convenient financial transactions while fostering a more interconnected digital ecosystem. The key focus of this partnership is to proactively address the rising threats of online scams and fraud, which remain a pressing challenge in today’s digital financial landscape. In line with the Open GSMA Initiative, this partnership leverages CelcomDigi’s Open Gateway API to enable PayNet to verify DuitNow transactions through secure SIM-based authen tication. This security method ensures that the mobile number linked to a DuitNow user ID is active and held by the registered account holder. Additionally, the partnership strengthens digital security through collaboration with financial institutions and the National Scam Response Centre via the National Fraud Portal. By streamlining scam report handling and sharing real-time fraud intelligence, NFP pro vides the reports to CelcomDigi for it to take proactive measures to swiftly flag, block, and blacklist scam-linked phone numbers. This approach also prevents fraudsters from misusing flagged numbers to create new accounts, further reinforcing security for all users. CelcomDigi CEO Datuk Idham Nawawi said,“By enabling SIM-based authentication technology, we are providing financial institutions with a more secure way to authenticate users, making digital financial transactions significantly safer.” PayNet CEO Farhan Ahmad said the partnership builds on the National Fraud Portal by adding real-time account verification through CelcomDigi, providing an extra layer of security for all users. Wholesale and retail trade begins 2025 with RM148.9b sales PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade sector began 2025 with total sales of RM148.9 billion in January, recording 4.6% year on-year growth . Chief Statistician Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said, “The increase in sales for January was mainly driven by the retail trade and wholesale trade sub-sectors. Retail trade recorded total sales of RM66.1 billion, an increase of RM5.0 billion, reflecting a year-on year growth of 8.2%. Meanwhile, wholesale trade registered total sales of RM66.8 billion, increased by RM3.1 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 4.9%. However, the motor vehicles sub-sector saw total sales of RM16 billion, a decline of RM1.6 billion or -9.1% year-on-year, following an exceptional performance in December 2024.” The wholesale trade continued to demon strate resilience in January, driven by robust demand for essential consumer goods. “The wholesale of household goods grew by 5.3% to RM13.9 billion, primarily supported by increased sales of clothing and pharmaceutical related products. The wholesale of food, beverages & tobacco also saw a 5.0% increase to RM13.9 billion, fuelled by the festive season’s heightened consumption. “In addition, this growth was further supported by other specialised wholesale trade, which rose by 2.6%,” Mohd Uzir said.

PETALING JAYA: The sales value of the manufacturing sector in January 2025 increased 3.5% (December 2024: 5.7%) year on-year to RM158.1 billion, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) said in its monthly report. Commenting on the latest manufacturing sales performance, Chief Statistician Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said, “The increase of sales value in the manufacturing sector was primarily supported by the food, beverage and tobacco sub-sector which recorded a robust growth of 10.6% in January 2025 (December 2024: 14.6%). This was followed by the electrical & electronics products and non-metallic mineral products, basic metal & fabricated metal products sub sectors at 7.3% (December 2024: 8.7%) and 2.1% (December 2024: 3.2%), respectively.” Compared with the preceding month, the sales value decreased by 0.2% to RM158.1 billion from RM158.4 billion recorded in December 2024. The sales value of export-oriented industries, which represented 70.2% of total sales, expanded by 5.1% in January 2025 (December 2024: 7.1%). The expansion was predominantly attributable to the increase in the manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats by 11.1% (December 2024: 17%). The manufacture of computer, electronics and optical products rose by 7.7% (December 2024: 9.4%), while manufacture of rubber products grew by 8.9% (December 2024: 10.7%). Domestic-oriented industries grew by 0.1% in January 2025 after registering a 2.5% increase in December 2024. The performance was due to a year-on-year decline in the manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi trailers (-17.6%). However, this was offset by the manufacture of food processing products which maintained double-digit growth at 10.4% (December 2024: 11.2%); manufacture of fabricated metal products industry except machinery and equipment (3.1%); and the manufacture of beverages (9.1%). On a month-on-month basis, both export and domestic-oriented industries dropped by 0.2%. o Up 3.5% year-on-year, driven by food and beverage sub-sector PETALING JAYA: Packaging manufacturer and property developer Scientex Bhd reported revenue of RM1.11 billion for the second quarter ended Jan 31, 2025, a 1.1% increase from RM1.09 billion in the previous year’s corresponding quarter. Net profit stood at RM123.9 million, compared to RM141 million previously, mainly reflecting the impact of increased market competition in the industrial packaging segment. However, the property division’s steady revenue growth helped mitigate the overall impact. The property division remained the key growth driver, with revenue increasing 3.8% to RM474.4 million, up from RM456.9 million previously. This growth was attributed to steady construction progress across all developments and the completion of seven projects across northern, central and southern

decreased 0.2%. “On the same note, salaries and wages paid in the manufacturing sector posted an increase of 1.5% (December 2024: 1.7%), amounting to RM8.5 billion in January 2025. Comparison by month-on-month, salaries and wages paid dropped by 4.6%.

On the number of employees, Mohd Uzir said, “There were 2.39 million persons engaged in this sector during January 2025, augmented by 0.9% (December 2024: 1%). The augmentation was mainly driven by the food, beverages and tobacco (2%); non metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products (1.6%); and electrical and electronic products (0.6%) sub sectors. On a month-on-month basis, the number of employees in this sector Peninsular Malaysia. Additionally, new launches in Pulai and Senai (Johor), Sungai Dua (Penang), Ipoh (Perak), Jenjarom (Selangor) and Jasin (Malacca) received strong market responses, further supporting the division’s performance. Meanwhile, the packaging division regis tered stable revenue of RM630.7 million, compared to RM635.8 million previously. CEO Lim Peng Jin said: “Scientex’s twin-core business model continues to demonstrate its strength in the current market environment, with our property division benefiting from sustained demand for affordable housing, while our packaging division adapts to evolving industry conditions.” He added that they are expanding their property developments and acquiring land in strategic locations to increase the availability

Subsequently, the sales value per employee went up to RM66,011 (2.6%), while the average salaries and wages per employee was RM3,540, rose by 0.6% year-on-year.” Scientex Q2 revenue rises, thanks to property arm

of affordable homes. “The stability of the Overnight Policy Rate at 3% ensures continued home loan affor dability, supporting buyer confidence and sustained demand for our affordable housing projects,” he said. In the packaging division, Lim said they remain focused on cost management and operational efficiency, while capitalising on their strong manufacturing capabilities to drive innovation. “By developing customised, value-added packaging solutions, we continue to streng then our market position. At the same time, we remain committed to supporting the shift towards a plastic circular economy, meeting increasing demand for recyclable and sustainable packaging that aligns with global sustainability goals,” he added.