28/06/2025

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SATURDAY | JUNE 28, 2025

MIGHT rolls out rail and smart city innovation centres

IHH Healthcare launches S$5m scheme to boost clinical research and innovation PETALING JAYA: Integrated healthcare provider IHH Healthcare Bhd has launched a transformative S$5 million (RM16.5 million) Research Grant and Innovation Sandbox Programme to accelerate clinical research and innovation across its global network. Disbursed over five years, the fund empowers IHH clinicians and employees to pursue impactful clinical research and pilot innovative ideas from the ground up, addressing critical health issues and driving advancements that improve patient experiences and outcomes. Depending on the strength of the proposals and the level of interest, the S$5 million fund has the potential to grow further. Group CEO Dr Prem Kumar Nair said, “The launch of our first research grant and innovation sandbox marks a pivotal step in our multi-year transformation journey to become a global healthcare leader. “By investing in our clinicians and employees, we are turning ideas into impact from within, creating solutions that improve lives and elevate care for communities around the world. “For a start, we are focusing on oncology and chronic disease, two of the most urgent and complex challenges facing healthcare today. “I am inspired by the ingenuity of our teams and the calibre of ideas they have brought forward. I look forward to seeing each of our shortlisted projects reach their full potential,” he said in a statement. The first grant call in March this year focused on oncology and chronic diseases. Out of 55 submissions, the Grant Governance Committee shortlisted seven research grant projects and eight innovation sandbox projects. Under the clinical research track, each project is expected to be completed within one year, or up to a maximum of two years for complex cases, with findings and outcomes published. The projects under the innovation sandbox track will prioritise ideas that demonstrate clear impact, such as scalability across IHH markets, cost savings, improved patient outcomes and better patient experience. The group will open its next call for submissions in September. SumiSaujana wins Sarawak Shell contract PETALING JAYA: SumiSaujana Group Bhd’s wholly owned subsidiary, SumiSaujana TCM Chemicals Sdn Bhd, has bagged a contract from Sarawak Shell Bhd to provide specialised chemicals and associated services for the Rosmari & Marjoram Project in Bintulu, Sarawak. SumiSaujana TCM will deliver a comprehensive solution package for speciality chemicals, including technical supervision, manpower, logistics and all necessary resources and services. The contract marks another significant milestone in SumiSaujana’s journey as a regional provider of oil and gas specialty chemicals, reinforcing the group’s strategic focus on high value, technically demanding projects. The Rosmari & Marjoram Project is a strategic deepwater sour gas development, operated by Sarawak Shell, with participating interests held by Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd, TotalEnergies and E&P Venture Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

o Programmes to drive deployment of home-grown technological solutions across the two sectors

KUALA Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, has launched two innovation centres to drive local technology development in the rail and smart city sectors. The launch of the Industrial Technology Innovation Centre (Itic) and the Smart City Experience and Next Generation Innovation Centre (Scenic) was held in conjunction with MIGHT’s 30th annual general meeting. MIGHT said the Itic programme was developed in collaboration with the Malaysia Rail Industry Corporation (Maric) and the Malaysia Smart Cities Alliance Association to support the deployment of home-grown solutions. “The programme seeks to drive the deployment of home-grown technological solutions across the rail and smart city sectors, enhancing Malaysia’s position in high-tech innovation,” it said. As part of the initiative, Maric partnered Tech Store Malaysia to develop a smart rail monitoring system that leverages real-time data and predictive analytics to enhance LUMPUR: The ISKANDAR PUTERI: The sales value of Malaysia’s distributive trade sector increased to RM1.766 trillion in 2024 from RM1.674 trillion in the previous year, said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali. He said the 5.5% increase reflected the encouraging performance of the domestic distribution sector, which remained sus tainable post-pandemic, thus opening up wider space for local products to penetrate the market more aggressively. “We see this increase in sales value as a positive momentum. It provides an opportunity for us to mainstream local products in this large wholesale and retail trade sector,“ he told a press conference after opening the southern zone Jelajah Karnival KPDN 2025 and the launch of the Buy Malaysian Goods Campaign (KBBM) at the Puteri Harbour Convention Centre here yesterday. Also present were Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and Johor Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han. This year, Johor was selected as the opening location for the “southern zone Jelajah Karnival KPDN 2025 , which will run for three days until tomorrow. The tour series will then proceed to five other zones, namely the Northern Zone (Kedah), Eastern Zone (Pahang), Central Zone (Selangor), Sabah Zone and Sarawak Zone, with various consumer advocacy programmes, local product promotions, and exhibitions by

maintenance and operational efficiency. “Real-time monitoring of train location, speed, axle counting, and overload detect ion is an important feature supporting predictive and preventive maintenance to reduce downtime and improve safety,” MIGHT said. MIGHT said it has released the Malaysia Rail Industry Report, developed with input from stakeholders, to highlight emerging tech nologies such as additive manufacturing, remote monitoring, smart stations and green technologies. “Featured technologies include additive manufacturing, rail flaw detection systems, energy-efficient and green technologies, advanced training tools, data-driven deci sion making, remote monitoring, smart maintenance, train automation, and smart station infrastructure.” it added. The Scenic facility, built using com posite materials under the Industrialised Building System, is intended as a colla borative hub to showcase and demonstrate local smart city technologies. “It also acts as a bridge between innovation and policy, facilitating the

deployment of future technologies in alignment with national urban develop ment goals,” MIGHT said. Furthermore, a Smart City Directory has also been introduced to catalogue technologies, products and services along the smart city value chain to support data driven decision-making among muni cipalities and industry players. “These initiatives reflect MIGHT’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Malaysia’s innovation landscape through nurturing local technological capabilities,” it said. MIGHT added that the efforts support the 10 by 10 Malaysian Science, Technology, Innovation and Economy Framework and the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2021-2030.

“The Itic programme will continue to expand across multiple platforms to ad vance strategic technologies and socio economic drivers, ensuring Malaysia’s position at the forefront of global innovation in transport and urban development,” it said. – Bernama Distributive trade sector sales rise to RM1.76 trillion in 2024

Armizan speaking at the opening the southern zone Jelajah Karnival KPDN 2025 and the launch of the Buy Malaysian Goods Campaign at the Puteri Harbour Convention Centre in Iskandar Puteri yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC government agencies.

locally and internationally. “This campaign provides a platform to showcase the quality of local products as the preferred choice, thus reducing dependence on imported goods.” – Bernama

Armizan said KBBM 2025 is a strategic initiative to stimulate domestic economic growth and assist micro, small, and medium enterprises in expanding their market reach