19/07/2025

Editorial T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: sunbiz@thesundaily.com Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 E: advertise@thesundaily.com

SCAN ME

SATURDAY | JULY 19, 2025

MAHB heading in right direction SEPANG: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is optimistic of achieving its target of 62 million passenger movements by year-end, a milestone that would mark its return to pre-pandemic levels. o This year is about re-establishing our strength, 62 million passenger movements target very achievable : Managing director

Group managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani said the positive trajectory is being driven by a series of strategic upgrades and service trans formations across its network, parti cularly at the Kuala Lumpur Inter national Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1. “This year is about re-establishing our strength. Passenger movement numbers are moving in the right direction. Looking at the trend, 62 million by year-end is very achievable,” he told reporters during a media briefing on MAHB’s strategic direction here yesterday. Mohd Izani, who took the helm at MAHB in August last year, said the company has pivoted towards a more agile, responsive and customer focused model, shedding old bureau cratic ways in favour of speed and service excellence. “I told my team we cannot run an airport at the pace we used to. This is a customer-facing business. Passengers expect quick responses and smooth experiences, so that’s what we are focusing on,” he said. He added that MAHB’s trans formation is anchored on three pillars: service excellence, growth, and capacity enhancement under the group’s refreshed airport strategy, KUALA is sharpening its focus on becoming a regional hub for healthcare innovation and trade, as its medical-related exports continue to climb and strategic opportunities in Asean expand. Malaysia External Trade Develop ment Corporation (Matrade) deputy CEO (export acceleration) Mansor Shah Wahid shared Malaysia’s pro gress in healthcare-related exports, stating that in 2024 alone, the country’s trade in medical devices and pharmaceuticals hit RM61.31 billion. He noted that medical devices made up 76% of that value, with a 31.6% year-on-year growth, while pharmaceutical exports rose by 4% to RM3.04 billion. “These figures are not just data points; they reflect the credibility of our regulatory system, the strength of our manufacturers and the growing trust in made-in-Malaysia products,” Mansor said at the Malaysia Health care Day Forum, part of the Inter national Healthcare Week 2025 held recently. He added that Malaysia’s export destinations now stretch beyond Asean, with the United States, Germany, Japan and Australia emer ging as top markets. Notably, eight of the world’s top 30 Ű BY DEEPALAKSHMI MANICKAM sunbiz@thesundaily.com LUMPUR: Malaysia

Malaysia and we can build on that. We provide the customer flow and the experience, and the connectivity will follow,” he said. He noted that collaboration between airports and airlines has improved in recent months, which bodes well for long-term route development. Asked on whether MAHB faces restrictions when engaging foreign carriers due to commitments to the national carrier, Mohd Izani said the airport operator maintains a perfor mance-driven approach. “We support our national airline as best we can. At the same time, we do not restrict others from coming in. Everyone has to perform. It’s a level playing field,” he said. Mohd Izani said MAHB is ex ploring the feasibility of enabling seamless passenger transfers bet ween KLIA Terminals 1 and 2. Proof-of-concept trials are under way, including evaluating shuttle routes and baggage transfer processes. Commenting on the recent brief disruption to the newly resumed aerotrain service at KLIA due to rainwater accumulation, Mohd Izani Philippines,” Halim said. He cited the rapid urbanisation and lifestyle changes across the region as key factors driving increased healthcare expenditure. Countries such as Indonesia, with the highest population in Southeast Asia, and Singapore, with the highest per capita healthcare spending, are leading indicators of the sector’s growth. Despite strong exports, Malaysia remains a significant importer of pharmaceutical products, particularly patented and specialty drugs, from Germany, the US and China. Nonetheless, the local pharma ceutical sector fulfils 70% to 80% of domestic demand for generic medi cations, and the government expects the local pharmaceutical market to reach US$3.5 billion by 2028. According to Halim, prescription drugs dominate the market and are forecasted to reach US$3 billion by 2028, with patented and generic drugs each contributing over US$1.4 billion. Over-the-counter products round out the remaining market share. Malaysia’s medical device exports remain its most significant healthcare segment, driven largely by the glove industry and supported by other products, such as catheters and electromedical equipment. In 2024, Malaysia’s medical device

and the KLIA ecosystem is at the centre of this repositioning plan to build a connected and efficient hub. MAHB has already completed 14 facility upgrades in the first half of the year (H1’25) at KLIA Terminal 1, involving improved passenger clear ance lanes and check-in zones. These efforts, costing about RM30 million, have increased throughput by 40%. “These are the low-hanging fruits, done with support from our ex perienced partners, including Global Infrastructure Partners. They helped us fine-tune operations, such as shortening clearance times and optimising passenger flows,” he said. When asked about capital expen diture for H2’25, Mohd Izani replied that the company is still finalising the figures. On MAHB’s regional competi tiveness, he said the group is focused on building strength in the regional travel segment rather than com peting head-on with larger hubs such as Changi (Singapore) or Suvarna bhumi (Bangkok). “We do not need to fight head-on. We focus on our niche. Many regional carriers are already operating out of medical manufacturers operate in Malaysia, affirming the country’s reputation in diagnostics, disposables and implantables. Mansor emphasised that Malaysia’s strategic location in the 680-million strong Asean market, along with its multilingual talent pool and trade agreements, positions it well to capture a larger share of the global medical devices market, which is projected to reach US$695.61 billion (RM2.95 trillion) by 2028. “In the age of AI disruption, healthcare remains one of the few sectors where human care and judgment are irreplaceable. That’s what makes this industry uniquely impactful,” he noted. Expanding on Malaysia’s regional positioning, Abdul Halim Mohamed Shariff, deputy director of lifestyle and life sciences at Matrade, delivered a detailed presentation titled “Malaysia Healthcare Trade Outlook: Trade Opportunities in Asean.” He highlighted that Asean is now the third-largest region globally by population and the fourth largest in terms of trade volume, creating a highly lucrative landscape for health care expansion. “When incomes rise, healthcare demand grows, not just in quantity but in complexity. This shift is being felt across Asean, especially in Indo nesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the device

Mohd Izani speaking at a media briefing on MAHB’s strategic direction yesterday. He says MAHB’s transformation is anchored on three pillars service excellence, growth and capacity enhancement. – BERNAMAPIC

exporters, with overseas offices and databases accessible to businesses seeking partners, market data, or regulatory guidance. Matrade’s presence at major international expos will continue to anchor Malaysia’s brand globally. At the same time, initiatives such as the eTrade Programme and Business Information Centre aim to provide exporters and foreign part ners with the tools to navigate cross border opportunities. “We encourage foreign players to reach out to our offices worldwide. You could browse the internet, yes, but we offer more than just infor mation. We connect you with vetted partners and real market oppor tunities,” said Halim. International Healthcare Week 2025, co-organised with Informa Markets, is a testament to Malaysia’s ambitions. From showcasing 10 home-grown brands at the Malaysian Pavilion to convening key regulatory and investment bodies, the event reflects a unified effort to position Malaysia as a regional leader in the healthcare trade. “Malaysia is not just an entry point, it’s a launchpad for the Asean region,” said Mansor. “Let us not miss the opportunity to form partnerships that shape lives and businesses far beyond our borders.” waterfalls and seasonal floral showcases. MAHB, now privately held by Khazanah Nasional via UEM, the Employees Provident Fund and Global Infrastructure Partners with Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, continues to have a golden share held under the Ministry of Finance. “The transformation journey is only just beginning. We are putting the right team, the right partnerships, and the right pace to bring Malaysia Airports to the next level,” he said. – Bernama

exports reached US$8.7 billion, solidifying its position among the top five manufacturing sites globally, alongside countries such as Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. “Malaysia is spending more per capita on medical equipment than several larger economies in the region. This shows our strong commit ment to innovation and accessibility in medical technology,” said Halim. He added that spending on medical devices and equipment in Malaysia is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 9.5%, reaching US$3.64 billion by 2028, surpassing regional counter parts in growth momentum. Countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia are also becoming in creasingly attractive due to economic development and healthcare reforms. Halim cited Vietnam’s accelerated urbanisation as a sign of shifting healthcare expectations and rising demand for better services and infra structure. “Every challenge, whether it’s ageing populations, financing gaps, or healthcare reform, opens the door to new business models. We’re seeing strong growth in healthtech, AI-driven diagnostics, and insurance solutions across Asean,” he said. Mansor and Halim reiterated Matrade’s role as a bridge for inter national buyers and Malaysian said the issue was promptly resolved by replacing the faulty pump and improving the drainage system. “We’ve been assured by our engineering team that it is under control now. The improvements have addressed the root cause,” he said. In preparation for Visit Malaysia 2026 and the Asian Games in 2027, MAHB is curating new passenger experiences. Among them is Project Rimba , a revitalised indoor forest with thematic features including improved lighting,

Malaysia aims to become Asean healthcare innovation and trade hub