05/07/2025

BIZ & FINANCE SATURDAY | JULY 5, 2025

15

TOP SHOTS

NEW VARIANTS ... Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (Pro-Net), a subsidiary of Proton Holdings Bhd, on Wednesday unveiled new variants of the Proton e.MAS 7. Malaysia’s best-selling electric vehicle introduces new colour options along with smarter features via its latest over-the-air update and a new sales policy. From left: Pro-Net CEO Zhang Qiang, chief branding officer Salawati Mohd Yusoff and chief information officer Sua Chek Hoong.

CROSS-BORDER BOOST ... Regional fintech player Boost on Thursday announced an expansion of its cross-border payment capabilities through a partnership with UnionPay International (UPI), which includes direct acceptance at Weixin Pay QR merchants in China. Weixin Pay is known internationally as WeChat Pay. From left: UPI CEO Wang Lixin, China UnionPay chairman Dong Junfeng, Boost group CEO Sheyantha Abeykoon and Boost Life CEO Ungku Liza.

SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING ... The Asean Business Advisory Council Malaysia (Asean-BAC Malaysia) together with its partners in the Asean Sustainability Reporting Advocac Collaborative (Asrac) have unveiled a regional policy statement that calls for a unified path forward for sustainability reporting across Asean, with alignment to international standards as a key priority. At the announcement of the statement in Singapore on Wednesday are, from left, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Asia-Pacific director Pulkit Abrol, Asean-BAC Malaysia and Asrac chair Jukhee Hong, Asean-BAC Malaysia chair Tan Sri Nazir Razak, Asean-BAC Singapore chair Teo Siong Seng and Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants president Teo Ser Luck.

LUCKY WINNERS ... Lotuss Stores (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Lotus’s Malaysia) and Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet) have wrapped up the MyDebit Syiokkk Raya contest which was held from Feb 13 to April 30. The festive contest was a key highlight of Lotus’s Senyuman Paling Bernilai Ramadan Raya campaign. Proton S70 winners Maizatul Akma Mazlan (second, right) and Kwong Joon @ Kong Joon (centre) are pictured at a handover ceremony with Lotus’s Malaysia CEO Neil Gurusamy (second, left), PayNet senior director of commercial Azrul Fakhzan Mainor (left) and Non-Bank Partners head Ng Kein Ai (right) at Lotus’s Malaysa’s head office in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, on Wednesday.

SHARE ACQUISITION ... Integrated facilities management services provider GFM Services on Wednesday entered entered into an agreement with Shapadu Corporation Sdn Bhd to acquire 60% equity interest in Shapadu Energy Sdn Bhd for a purchase consideration of RM30 million. From left: Shapadu Group chief accountant and finance Mastura Othman; Shapadu Energy and Shapadu CR Asia Sdn Bhd executive director Syed Saggaf Syed Ahmad; Shapadu Group executive chairman Datuk Seri Shafiz Shahrani; GFM Services group managing director Ruslan Nordin and non-executive director Zainal Amir.

ULTIMATE PITCH ... In a unique and landmark convergence of business, storytelling and digital streaming, Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd recently launched The Ultimate Elevator Pitch –Malaysia’s first feature-length SME business pitch film focused on SME entrepreneurship – in conjunction with World MSME Day. From left: Alliance Bank group CEO Kelly Kam, 5X Capital partner Natalie Tan and 1337 Ventures CEO and founding partner Bikesh Lakhmichand.