08/09/2025

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MONDAY | SEPT 8, 2025

Taxpool aspires to be ‘go-to partner’ o App-based solution designed to help Malaysians navigate evolving digital tax landscape Ű BY JOHN GILBERT sunbiz@thesundaily.com

“As Malaysia transitions into mandatory e invoicing, this level of precision and efficiency will be critical – and Taxpool is built to deliver it,” Syamil said. He said winning the Crowd’s Favourite Award at CLLA Cohort 20 was a turning point for Taxpool. “It validated that our solution truly resonates with the real struggles SMEs face, and it showed that our mission – to make tax compliance less intimidating – has strong grassroots support. “The award also gave us immediate credibility with investors, potential partners and government stakeholders. “Building on that momentum, we are now entering active fundraising discussions to scale both product development and user acqui sition. At the same time, we are exploring regional markets like Indonesia and Singapore, where the SME sector is vast but tax compliance remains fragmented. “These markets mirror Malaysia’s challenges, which gives Taxpool a strong platform for expansion,” Syamil said. When asked about Taxpool’s long-term role in closing Malaysia’s digital tax compliance gap beyond just receipts and e-filing, Syamil said Malaysia’s tax gap is driven partly by non compliance among SMEs, many of whom operate informally or lack proper digital records. “Taxpool is not just digitising receipts, it is building infrastructure that bridges this gap. By offering a simple, one-stop solution, we help businesses move from being compliance-averse to compliance-ready. “Over time, we believe this will contribute to expanding the tax base and supporting Malaysia’s digital economy goals. Our role, therefore, is both commercial and civic: making compliance a growth enabler, not a burden,” he said. Looking five to 10 years ahead, Syamil said, Taxpool’s vision is to transform how Malaysians perceive tax. “Tax should not just be about compliance – it should be seen as a lifestyle and a partnership with government. Through Taxpool, we want to create a future where taxpayers unlock rewards, benefits and opportunities for contributing to the nation.” Pua also highlighted the growing role of delivery platforms, with online orders now contributing about 20% of revenue, up from 8% to 10% before the pandemic. “The habit has stuck, even on weekends when families want a simple lunch at home. Delivery has doubled since Covid-19,” he said. To build on this momentum, O’Briens is developing its own mobile app to offer customers greater convenience and loyalty rewards. Pua is confident that the brand, which began as a small franchise at Great Eastern Mall, Kuala Lumpur, in 2002, can grow into a homegrown champion for the region after his group took over the Asia-Pacific master franchise rights in 2021. “We are proud that the Asia-Pacific rights are now Malaysian-owned. Our vision is for O’Briens to blossom from here to other countries in the region.” Pua said the company is open to partnering with master franchisees abroad, similar to how he started the business in Malaysia more than two decades ago.“At the end of the day, we are not just selling sandwiches. We are promoting a lifestyle of healthy eating, every bite is packed with nutrition, not just calories. That is the value we want to deliver as we grow.”

KUALA LUMPUR: Businesses in Malaysia will be expected to comply with nationwide e invoicing by 2027, a transformation that will reshape how companies manage their finances. For small and medium-sized enterprises, the challenge is not simply one of compliance but of adapting to a digital tax environment that demands accuracy, transparency and effi ciency. Many SMEs, especially those without in house accounting teams, are understandably anxious about this shift. Taxpool, an app-based solution developed by Wazzap Me Sdn Bhd, is entering this space to become the country’s go-to tax partner, with an approach that is designed to simplify compliance by making the process as straight forward as possible. CEO and co-founder Syamil Mazlan said Taxpool’s “Snap, Store, and Strategise” model ensures that invoices are captured, data is automatically categorised and year-end reports can be generated in a single, compliance-ready file. “Beyond easing administrative burdens, Taxpool is developing real-time dashboards that allow business owners to monitor obligations throughout the year, replacing last-minute stress with proactive financial management,” Syamil told SunBiz . He said the vision goes well beyond compliance, adding that Taxpool is aligning its growth with the government’s e-invoice rollout, positioning itself as a long-term partner in digital finance. The platform is being scaled to acco mmodate tens of thousands of SMEs and professionals, supported by a nationwide network of licensed tax agents. Strategic integrations with MyInvois, payroll systems and banking APIs (application pro gramming interfaces) are creating an ecosystem that enables seamless tax and financial management under one roof, said Syamil. “In a landscape where digitisation is no longer optional, Taxpool wants to be more than a tool – it aspires to be the default choice for businesses and individuals navigating Malaysia’s KUALA LUMPUR: Sandwich cafe chain O’Briens is charting ambitious growth plans in Malaysia and the wider Asia-Pacific region with CEO Brian Pua ( pic ) revealing that a potential Bursa Malaysia listing is on the horizon as the company looks to double the number of outlets over the next two years. Pua, who brought the Irish brand to Malaysia in 2002, said listing the company is one of the strategic options under consideration to take the business to the next level. “Listing is an interesting topic. With the success of other food and beverage (F&B) players, it is naturally something we think about. It is definitely part of our roadmap to expand not only in Malaysia but across Asia-Pacific, he told SunBiz in an interview. If the company proceeds with an initial public offering, funds raised would be channelled into expanding its cafe network, strengthening its franchise model and supporting regional growth. O’Briens currently operates 37 outlets in Malaysia, with about one-third located in hospitals and the Ű BY DEEPALAKSHMI MANICKAM sunbiz@thesundaily.com

Syamil (left) receiving the Crowd Favourite Award from Cyberview Sdn Bhd CEO Kamarul Ariffin Abdul Samad. On the right is Cyberview technology hub development division head Shafinaz Salim.

enables small business owners to stay focused on what matters most – running and growing their businesses,” Syamil said. He noted that receipt tracking remains one of the biggest pain points for SMEs, with nearly 90% of users struggling to stay organised. He said Taxpool tackles this through real time automation – receipts are snapped, stored and categorised instantly, while artificial intelligence flags anomalies to ensure accuracy and audit readiness. Invoices are directly imported into the system, where they are matched against payments and assigned to the correct category, thereby eliminating manual errors and saving time. “For business owners, the impact is immediate. What once took hours of sorting and compiling is reduced to minutes, allowing them to focus on growth rather than paperwork.

new tax era,” he said. Elaborating, Syamil said that for many micro and small business owners, tax compliance can feel both costly and complex. Manual receipt tracking remains common, while many wait until year-end to consult a tax agent – a practice that increases the risk of errors and potential penalties. “Taxpool is designed to remove this burden by streamlining the entire process. Business owners can snap their receipts, with the system automatically storing and organising the data. “Payroll information is captured seamlessly through integrations with providers such as Payroll Panda and MySyarikat. “As year-end approaches, users have the flexibility to plan with our premium AI adviser, Eddy, or to engage directly with our nationwide network of more than 300 licensed tax agents. “By lowering barriers to compliance, Taxpool

O’Briens Malaysia eyes regional expansion, potential Bursa listing

The increase in the Sales and Service Tax to 8% in March has weighed on the cafe industry. Pua said the effect varies across locations, with some outlets seeing sales remain steady while others experienced a dip.

rest spread across shopping malls, office towers and transport hubs. Pua said the group aims to reach 60 to 70 cafes within the next two years through both corporate

owned outlets and new franchise partners. He noted that interest in franchising has been encouraging, following strong response at the recent Franchise International Malaysia exhibition. “Expansion will make our cafes more accessible for loyal customers who enjoy our fresh sandwiches, coffee and juices,” he said.

“Ultimately, it comes back to how we create value. We want customers to know that when they spend here, they are not just buying a sandwich but a meal that is fresh, natural and nutritious. You feel full, but at the same time guilt-free, because it’s healthy eating done right,” he said. To ease cost pressures on diners, O’Briens offers membership dis counts and affordable meal deals, such as sandwich-and-drink combos. “A lot of our customers are regulars, so we want them to feel the value they

Like many F&B operators, O’Briens faces rising input costs for raw materials such as eggs and salmon. Pua admitted these pressures have affected the chain’s pricing structure, but stressed that the company works to balance costs without burdening customers. “We want to give value to the customer with minimum impact. Some menu items act as ‘loss leaders’ while others generate revenue, so we balance both to absorb the increases,” he explained.

are getting each time,” Pua said. He noted that adapting to Malaysian tastes has always been part of the brand’s strategy. Over the years, O’Briens has introduced menu innovations such as nasi lemak wraps and rendang chicken sandwiches, and continues to invest in research and development to localise flavours.