16/08/2025

BIZ & FINANCE SATURDAY | AUG 16, 2025

12

More businesses in Malaysia investing in healthy workforce

KUALA Corporate wellness programmes are rapidly becoming a strategic priority in Malaysian workplaces as employers confront rising non-communicable diseases (NCD), increasing medical insurance premiums, and growing employee expectations for compre hensive well-being. Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said more companies are now investing in structured wellness programmes that cover fitness, nutrition and mental health compared to pre-pandemic levels. The Covid-19 crisis, he noted, was a “turning point” that made em ployers see workforce health as essential to business sustainability. “Post-pandemic, employers have shifted from ad-hoc health initiatives to structured programmes,” he said, adding that healthier employees deliver higher productivity, lower absenteeism, reduced healthcare costs and better talent retention. MEF data shows that multinational corporations (MNC) in technology, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and professional services, as well as financial institutions and the oil and gas sector, are leading the adoption. Many cite environmental, social and governance compliance, high performance demands and mental health pressures as key drivers. Mental health support has seen the biggest investment jump, in Ű BY DEEPALAKSHMI MANICKAM sunbiz@thesundaily.com LUMPUR:

Malaysia’s rising rates of diabetes and heart disease. He also highlighted the role of HR departments, which he believes should evolve from administrative functions to strategic partners in wellness and employee engagement. Both experts believe corporate wellness is shifting from a “nice-to have” perk to a business necessity. MEF projects that within five years, medium to large companies will view it as a standard part of the employee value proposition. However, for universal adoption, especially among SMEs, government support is key. Syed Hussain suggested tax incentives, matching grants, and public-private mental health cam paigns, while Balakrishnan stressed the importance of partnerships between government agencies, HR leaders and industry to embed wellness into Malaysia’s corporate culture. “The post-Covid workplace has changed. Profit will always be important, but balancing it with wellness and work-life balance is how companies will win the future,” Balakrishnan said.

o Employers see corporate wellness programmes as essential to business sustainability amid rising medical costs and staff retention challenges

some insurers are offering rebates or tailored coverage for companies that adopt preventive wellness measures. While large firms and MNC are driving uptake, small and medium enterprises (SME) lag, constrained by limited budgets, internal expertise and awareness. Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Human Resource and Industrial Relations Professor Dr Balakrishnan Parasuraman stated that SME com prise over 99% of Malaysian busi nesses, with more than 60% being micro-enterprises, most of which lack dedicated HR departments or struc tured wellness budgets. “SMEs focus heavily on profit and daily operations, but if they want to retain good staff and improve productivity, they must transform and make wellness part of their strategy,” he said.

cluding employee assistance pro grammes, counselling services, stress management workshops and mental health leave. “Workplace anxiety, burnout and depression are no longer ignored,” Syed Hussain said. Traditionally, wellness spending was one of the first areas to be cut during economic slowdowns, but employers are now treating it as a long-term investment in human capital. MEF reports that structured wellness programmes have delivered a 10-30% drop in absenteeism, earlier detection of chronic illnesses, and higher employee engagement. Rising healthcare costs are also a catalyst. With NCD such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease pushing premiums higher,

Syed Hussain

Balakrishnan

“The government can help by offering training, HRD Corp incentives, and grants targeted at SMEs.” Balakrishnan noted that younger employees, particularly those in Gen Z, are vocal about mental health and work-life balance, often citing stress from key performance indicators, family pressures, and environmental changes. Nutrition and fitness habits also require attention, as busy urban lifestyles often lead to high sugar and fast-food consumption. “Companies can engage nutri tionists, organise weekly fitness activities, and encourage healthier eating habits,” he said, pointing to

UMediC ventures into medical services PETALING JAYA: Penang-based UMediC Group Bhd, a medical devices marketing and distribution provider that also manufactures its own range of medical consumables, has launched a new business segment under medical services.

Johor Plantations posts robust results, declares 1.25 sen dividend

PETALING JAYA: Johor Plantations Group Bhd recorded a 51% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in net profit for the first half of 2025 (H1’25), reaching RM150.64 million. Revenue saw a 12.6% increase to RM738.72 million, compared to the same period last year. While production volumes were lower y-o-y, the group’s performance was supported by higher selling prices for crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel (PK), alongside stronger outside crop purchase (OCP) that helped sustain throughput and strengthen profitability. Following this strong performance, the board has declared a second interim dividend of 1.25 sen per share for the quarter, reflecting an earnings per share of 3.01 sen, rewarding its shareholders with a total dividend payout of RM31.25 million. For Q2’25, the group reported revenue of RM398.29 million, representing a 10.4% increase from RM360.91 million in the same quarter last year. Net profit increased by 50% to RM75.37 million, compared to RM50.26 million in Q2’24. Revenue from CPO increased 4.8% y-o-y in Q2’25 to RM323.39 million, with delivery volumes up 1.9% to 74,667 tonnes. PK revenue surged 46.1% y-o-y to RM73.07 million, supported by a 2.1% rise in delivery volumes to 19,546 tonnes. Commenting on the results, Johor Plantation managing director Mohd Faris Adli Shukery said the company is pleased to report another strong performance, driven by disciplined efforts across the upstream segment and continued progress in expanding external crop sourcing. In addition to earnings, Johor Plantation also announced a key leadership transition with the retirement of its chief financial officer Aziah Ahmad effective Sept 1. Aziah has been a vital member of the Kulim (Malaysia) Bhd and Johor Corporation group since 2014, holding senior finance leadership roles. Zain Azrai Zainal Abidin will succeed her effective Sept 1.

The strategic venture into medical services is part of UMediC’s vertical expansion into the medical healthcare services. UMediC is synergistic, leveraging its existing business offerings to enhance its scale and active presence among hospitals and local healthcare providers. The new segment will offer services such as a care centre providing post-recovery care, ambulance solutions equipped with the latest medical devices onboard, as well as establishing a learning centre offering training workshops to raise public awareness of medical healthcare and provide medical training to medical professionals. UMediC executive director and CEO Lim Taw Seong said that with the launch of its medical services, the company is transforming its business by delivering a comprehensive spectrum of healthcare solutions aimed at addressing the gaps and pain points among local healthcare providers. This includes the lack of capacity to cater to all patients, given that there are only a limited number of beds available. “Rather than sending them home, we are offering them a place for post-surgical care, which also helps release the burden of working-class families who might not be able to tend to their needs. “Aside from that, the ambulance service is also a key area that we have identified as a strong growth area for us, given that we can cross-sell to hospitals as a complete solutions offering equipped with our latest offerings under our marketing and distribution arm. “Looking ahead, we see immense opportunities coming from this space. We expect to gradually see more contributions in tandem with the growing ageing population,“ he said at the launching event yesterday. Lim said that at the heart of UMediC’s manufacturing strength is its state-of-the-art

From left: Loo, Goh, Ng, Gooi, UMediC executive director and CEO Lim Taw Seong, Muhammad Ghaddaffi and Lau at the launch. facility in Batu Kawan Industrial Park.

equipped to deliver rapid and high-quality care while integrating ambulance-specific medical products. Complementing these is the UMC Healthcare Centre, staffed by professional medical and nursing personnel, including visiting doctors. “Much like how working parents rely on daycare centres for their children, our healthcare centre offers a safe and professional environment for patients during the day while their families are at work,” Lim explained. The launch was officiated by Penang State Exco for Youth, Sports and Health Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, Bukit Tambun State Assemblyman and Penang Development Corporation board membe Goh Choon Aik, UMediC chairman Datuk Seri Ng Chai Eng, Invest-in-Penang Bhd CEO Datuk Loo Lee Lian, UWC Bhd executive director and chief operating officer Datuk Lau Chee Kheong, Penang Mida director Muhammad Ghaddaffi Sardar Mohamed.

The recent expansion with the addition of Plant 2 has increased total manufacturing space to over 50,000 square feet. Combined with the upcoming ISO 5 cleanroom and sophisticated blow-fill-seal equipment, this positions the company at the forefront of global medical device production. “Our pioneering centre of excellence and halal-certified facilities, along with our footprint in nearly 40 countries, enable us to deliver life-saving products that meet the highest standards of quality and safety,” Lim said. In line with its growth strategy, UMediC has also expanded its role beyond manufacturing to provide direct services to end users. The UMC Learning Centre now offers professional medical training to ensure that personnel across the industry are equipped with the highest level of skills. UMediC’s ambulance services are fully