02/04/2025

BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | APR 2, 2025

/thesuntelegram FOLLOW / Malaysian Paper

ON TELEGRAM m RAM

14

Address challenges posed by EU proposal, ministry urged

Ű BY JOHN GILBERT sunbiz@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Timber Association (MTA) has expressed concern over a proposal by the European Union (EU) to list seven timber genera – Anthoshorea, Doona, Pentacme, Neohopea, Richetia, Rubroshorea and Shorea – under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In a letter addressed to Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, MTA president George Yap ( pic ) highlighted the EU proposal’s potential economic and ecological repercussions and urged a more balanced approach to conservation. He said the EU’s proposal, outlined in a letter dated Nov 14, 2024, requested responses from Malaysia and 16 other range states by Nov 29, 2024. “However, Malaysia has yet to submit an official reply,” Yap said in the letter to the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustain ability Ministry (NRES Ministry) seen by SunBiz . MTA emphasised that the Forest Research Institute Malaysia has identified only five species within these genera as critically endangered, questioning the necessity of a blanket listing for the entire Shorea genus, which constitutes a significant portion of Malaysia’s forest cover and timber production. The association argued that Malaysia already employs robust conservation measures, including the Total Protected Area system to prevent species extinction, Sustainable Forest Management, Reduced-Impact Logging practices and en

assist the government in preparing technical and socio-economic counter arguments while rallying support from regional trade bodies and the international community,” MTA said in the letter. MTA noted that the letter to the NRES Ministry underscores the delicate balance between environ mental preservation and economic sustainability. It said that while Malaysia remains committed to protecting endangered species, the association advocates for a fair and evidence-based approach that does not unfairly penalise the

o Malaysian Timber Association voices concern over push to list seven timber classes under CITES

level discussions, during which the minister engages with the Ministry of Plant ation and Commodities to align national policies. Further, Malaysia will seek

richment planting and certification schemes to ensure responsible forestry. MTA also pointed out that deforestation in Malaysia is driven by multiple factors, including urban development and population growth, rather than timber production alone. It described the EU’s approach as dispropor tionate, particularly since the Shorea genus is a vital economic resource for Malaysia’s timber industry. The association said a CITES Appendix II listing would impose strict trade regulations, potentially disrupting livelihoods and harming local communities dependent on the sector. MTA commended Nik Nazmi and the ministry for acknowledging these concerns and agreed on the need for a strategic response. It noted that in addressing the issue, the NRES Ministry and the MTA have outlined a three-pronged approach. These include high

support from Asean member states and other affected range states, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, to oppose the EU’s proposal. Thirdly, a brainstorming session with the Malaysian Timber Industry Board and MTA members to be held this month to formulate a detailed response to the EU’s six key questions. “The MTA reaffirmed its commitment to biodiversity conservation but stressed that CITES regulations must also consider socio economic impacts. The association pledged to

timber industry. “With coordinated efforts between the government, industry stakeholders and regional partners, Malaysia aims to present a compelling case against the EU’s broad-brush CITES proposal. The timber sector now awaits further developments as the NRES Ministry prepares its official response, hoping a mutually beneficial resolution can be achieved,” the association said.

Human touch must lead in AI-driven customer experience, says futurist

MNH’s 2025 prospects strong, backed by RM892m order book: HLIB Research

PETALING JAYA: Hong Leong Invest ment Bank Bhd (HLIB Research) views the operational outlook for MN Holdings Bhd (MNH) in 2025 as strong. The group boasts a record-high order book of RM892.4 million and a robust tender book of RM1.5 billion. “Also, we see better pricing for Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) projects, driven by the limited pool of M&E contractors and the strong pipeline of projects set to roll out in RP4. Additionally, MNH has high lighted a potential shift in DC development focus to the central region from the southern, which we reckon is favourable for the group’s UUE segment. “The upcoming LSS5, LSS5+, and LSS6 projects will provide further upside to MNH’s order book,“ HLIB Research said in a report. HLIB Research noted that as of March 13, MNH’s order book hit a record RM892.4 million, with over 50% coming from DC sector and TNB projects. Despite this strong position, tender activity remains healthy. RM1.5 billion worth of projects are currently being bid on, with 70% involving TNB and DC oppor tunities. HLIB Research noted that half of DC-related tenders come from existing clients, while the other half represent new business from Western-based DC operators. “The group maintains a selective approach, pursuing projects that either strengthen its track record or deliver attractive margins, with ample opportunities still available in the market,“ the bank-backed research firm said. Further, HLIB Research noted that the upcoming LSS5, LSS5+, and LSS6 projects (totaling 6GW) are set

PETALING JAYA: As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to re shape customer en gagement strategies across Malaysia and the region, futurist, author and speaker Anders Sörman-Nil sson ( pic ) has urged businesses to rethink how they build con nections with cus tomers in an in creasingly digital-first world.

and offer real-time insights, the tech nology must not undermine trust and human connection. “The most successful brands

leverage AI systems as an enabler of human connection. AI handles routine tasks, predicts issues before they escalate, and enables real time insights, while humans focus on what they do best – building relationships with empathy, creative solutions, and genuine care,” he said. A key theme of the summit was the need to strike a balance between AI innovation and human empathy. Carruthers acknowledged that businesses face ongoing chal lenges, including fragmented customer journeys, agent burnout, and the need to scale per sonalisation. However, he emphasised that overcoming these hurdles opens opportunities to lead in customer experience transformation. Carruthers said the future of CX in the Asia-Pacific lies in embracing AI-first platforms that prioritise human connection. “Organisations need to adopt CX solutions that deliver cutting edge AI-powered experiences while ensuring that empathy, trust, and transparency remain at the forefront of every inter action.”

Speaking at the Zoom CX Summit APAC 2025, Sorman Nilsson said, “Businesses must start preparing for a new, more human centric, technology-enabled future of customer experience (CX). “In today’s digital-first world, to truly win the minds and hearts of customers, we have to do things well. This means looking at things from both a high-touch and a high-tech perspective, blending human intelligence with artificial intelligence.” Hosted by Zoom, the summit brought together CX leaders and technology experts from across the region to explore how businesses can stay ahead in the “experience revolution”, a term used by Zoom’s head of CX sales (Asia-Pacific and Japan) Lukas Carruthers, to describe the growing demand for more intelli gent, empathetic and seamless customer interactions powered by AI. Carruthers said that while AI can streamline customer journeys

MN Holdings’ businesses include provision of substation engineering services and solutions to private and public utilities companies in the power industry in Malaysia. The group boasts a record-high order book of RM892.4 million and a robust tender book of RM1.5 billion. – MN HOLDINGS PIC

contract values and stronger margins,“ HLIB Research said. HLIB Research maintains a “buy” call for MNH with an unchanged target price of RM1.54. “We favour the group for its strong exposure to high-growth sectors such as solar and data centres. “Additionally, MNH is well positioned as a proxy for Malaysia’s rising power demand and stands to benefit from TNB’s capex upcycle,“ HLIB Research said.

to boost MNH’s order book, surpassing TNB’s 4GW ESA for data centres. “Unlike CGPP, LSS requires timely execution, ensuring quicker project rollout. MNH expects improved pricing power due to the larger market opportunity – LSS5 and LSS5+ alone exceed cumulative past utility-scale quotas – and limited competition among M&E specialists. “Higher project capacities should also translate to bigger