05/12/2025

BIZ & FINANCE FRIDAY | DEC 5, 2025

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Wentel Engineering in optimistic mood

Senheng sharpens loyalty strategy, expands S-Coin rewards

and home essentials. Lim said the company plans to widen earning opportunities and grow participation within the ecosystem. The retailer is also currently trialling its S-Affiliate (SAT) programme designed to allow members to earn commission by promoting Senheng products among internal staff. “We’re still on a test run with employees. About 1,500 staff have registered so far,” Lim said. “The system must be stable, able to calculate commissions and pay out correctly. Once that is solid, we’ll open it to customers. Our aim is to recruit 10,000 agents nation wide.” To further drive engagement, Senheng has expanded its Untung Gila cashback campaign, now offering three cashback tiers, 50%, 70% and up to 100% S-Coin. “In this campaign, you spend RM10,000 and you get RM8,000. Even with Samsung phones or laptops, you get 50% cashback,” Lim said. “It’s very hard to believe, but it’s real.” Looking to 2026, he acknow ledged the broader retail environ ment remains difficult. “Retail trends are tough. Revenue may sustain, but pro ductivity is squeezed by high operating costs,” he said. “Because of this, everyone is trying to introduce new mechanisms to stay competitive.” Despite cost pressures, Lim said, Senheng plans to continue upgrading store layouts to make outlets “bigger and brighter,” while simultaneously improving digital touchpoints. When asked whether S-Coin could eventually evolve into a cryptocurrency-like asset, Lim said he would not rule out the possi bility.

KUALA LUMPUR: Senheng Electric (KL) Sdn Bhd is doubling down on customer loyalty and value creation as it marks its 36th anniversary, unveiling stronger reward mech anics, expanded cashback offerings and hints of a major technology driven retail revamp set for early 2026. The retailer, one of Malaysia’s largest consumer electronics chains, announced significant growth across its S-Coin loyalty ecosystem between 2024 and 2025, signalling rising consumer appetite for flexible, high-impact reward sys tems despite a chal-lenging retail backdrop. According to the company, S Coin issuance jumped 83% year on-year, while overall redemptions surged 106%. The average re demption value per PlusOne member climbed from RM270 to RM471, an increase of nearly 75%. “These numbers tell us that Malaysians value flexibility and choice when it comes to rewards,” said Senheng managing director KH Lim. “The strong momentum of S-Coin shows that customers stay engaged when you give them options that actually matter.” He was speaking at a media briefing yesterday in conjunction with Senheng’s 36th anniversary this year. Under its “My Rewards, My Choice” framework, Senheng con tinues to position the S-Coin loop as the centrepiece of its loyalty strategy. Customers earn the digital currency when buying selected items in-store or through the Senheng App and can redeem S Coin for more than 2,400 items across categories such as acces sories, lifestyle products, gadgets Ű BY DEEPALAKSHMI MANICKAM sunbiz@thesundaily.com

o Group set to end 2025 strongly , looks forward to clinching more contracts in 2026

Ű BY JOHN GILBERT sunbiz@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Wentel Engi neering Holdings Bhd, which specialises in metal fabrication and assembly for industries such as semiconductor, security screening, and electrical and electronics, is upbeat about prospects in 2026, expecting more contracts during the year. Group CEO Chuah Chong Syn said that for 2025, the company is on track to finish the year strongly, with third-quarter revenue already almost 30% higher than the same period last year, placing it close to matching the full-year results of 2024. “The momentum is broad-based and driven by the company’s four core business segments. “Our growth is not dependent on a single pillar. Security, CNC machining, E&E and the medical segment each provide a strong engine of demand. This multi-segment model is what keeps our performance stable and progressively stronger year after year,” Chuah told reporters during a briefing yesterday. For the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2025 (Q3’25), Wentel Engineering posted a net profit of RM6.18 million, an increase of 80.82% from RM3.42 million in Q3’24. Revenue for the quarter rose 32.81% to RM38.43 million from RM28.94 million in Q3’24. For the nine months of FY25 (9M25), Wentel Engineering posted a net profit of RM22.92 million, up 84.99% from RM12.39 million. Revenue for 9M25 stood at RM104.52 million from RM83.49 million posted in 9M of FY24, an increase of 25.18%. Chuah said the security segment, which contributes over 60% of group revenue, remains the most consistent growth driver. “Security is a daily-growth sector. The fundamental demand for security solutions is clear and universal. “Industry research projects a compounded annual growth rate of 6% to 10% through 2030, and this aligns well with what we are experiencing on the ground,” he

From left: Chuah Chong Syn, executive director Wong Chun Wei and financial controller Yap Yew Wei.

and tightening regulatory standards. He added that the need for scanning systems today is broader than ever. “Security scanning is now an essential requirement across all cross-border movements — whether it involves people or goods. With air travel volumes now exceeding pre Covid levels, the demand for high throughput and high-technology scanning systems has increased significantly.” Chuah said the rapid rise of international e-commerce is also fuelling adoption. “Every item purchased from overseas passes through a security checkpoint. That entire flow requires reliable scanning machines.” He cited regulatory requirements as another major growth catalyst. As authorities introduce new security standards, operators must upgrade or replace existing equipment. “When regulators tighten security requirements, the industry has no option but to upgrade. These policies usually come with allocated funding, creating a clear and stable invest ment cycle for security infra structure,” he said. Chuah highlighted that Wentel Engineering’s strong positioning in this segment is reinforced by its long term partnerships. “We are fortunate to have two major customers in this segment. Whenever large global events such as the Olympics or the World Cup take place, demand surges – and our customers benefit, which in turn benefits us,” he said, adding that this creates a resilient and predictable revenue base for the group.

explained. Chuah highlighted that advance ments in scanning technologies have accelerated market needs. “Higher-technology scanning equipment is now a necessity, not an option. As the industry upgrades, the demand for new and replacement systems continues to rise.” In CNC machining, demand remains healthy as manufacturers increasingly require precision com ponents for advanced applications. Chuah noted that this segment tends to grow as the manufacturing sector enters a new investment cycle. Meanwhile, the E&E division is showing signs of gradual recovery after a trough in 2022. “Year-on-year, the E&E sector is picking up. It may not be explosive growth, but the trend is steadily upward,” Chuah said. In the medical segment, certain project transfers are progressing more slowly, but mass-flow pro duction for several items remains intact and is expected to support 2025 growth. “The medical segment is still a strategic long-term play. Once the project transfers fully stabilise, we expect stronger contri butions,” Chuah affirmed. Overall, he remains confident about the group’s trajectory, saying “2024 laid the foundation. 2025 is the year we build on it. With these four segments working together, our growth outlook for this year and next year remains solid”. Elaborating on the security segment, Chuah said, the company continues to see strong, structural demand within its security scanning division, driven by global travel recovery, cross-border movement, “The Strait of Malacca is one of the busiest straits in the world. So, many vessels will bypass there, and we set up a hub at the Tanjung Bruas Port. The plan is to start the operation in the first half of 2026,” he said at a press conference after PSP Energy’s listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia. Ong said, “Tanjung Bruas Port is strategically located along major shipping routes, and this development

PSP Energy to build bunkering hub in Malacca KUALA LUMPUR: PSP Energy Bhd is set to expand its marine fuel business with the development of a bunkering hub at Tanjung Bruas Port, Malacca. positions us well to capture new demand in one of the region’s most active maritime corridors,” he said.

As part of its fleet enhancement plan, SP Energy also intends to acquire a new bunker vessel after listing to support upcoming port-based operations. PSP Energy made a flat debut, opening at its initial public offering price of 16 sen on Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market. – Bernama

Group managing director Ong Chee Seng said the port facilities are under renovation and will form a key part of the company’s strategy to serve vessels on the Strait of Malacca, noting the high volume of vessel traffic passing the strait daily.

Lim speaking at Senheng’s 36th anniversary media briefing.